Organizational Effectiveness, Change, and Innovation

Tamara Norris, InstructorSOWO 804 Organizational and Community BehaviorSchool of Social WorkUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina 27599

Building Evaluation CapacityBuilding Evaluation Capacity

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Human Service Organizations:Human Service Organizations:

A Case StudyA Case Study

Stevenson, J. F., Florin, P., Mills, D. S., & Andrade, M. (2002). Building evaluation capacity in human service organizations: A case study. Evaluation and Program Planning, 25(3), 233-243.

Building Evaluation Capacity….Building Evaluation Capacity….

Stevenson, Florin, Mills, & Andrade

The Problem: The government and other entities that fund nonprofit human service organizations are pressuring these agencies to better evaluate outcomes, but many nonprofits simply don’t have the capacity to do so.

The Response:The authors undertook a three-year project to work with 13 local agencies in the state of Rhode Island to enhance their ability to evaluate 14 substance abuse prevention programs.

Building Evaluation Capacity….Building Evaluation Capacity….

Stevenson, Florin, Mills, & Andrade

The intervention had four components• Conducting a needs assessment• Identifying and enhancing three “exemplary” evaluations

to serve as models for the other programs.• On-site and telephone technical support upon request• Providing three training sessions later in the project

1. Planning2. Implementation3. Analysis and reporting

Low participant confidence was determined to be a problem. Confidence in a different evaluation skill was measured following each workshop. Confidence levels rose after each workshop, but they were short-lived.

Five Five BusinessBusiness Trends…. Trends….

http://socialent.aztech-cs.com/resources/articles/five_business/

1. Quality and outcomes management

2. Business and process re-engineering

3. Knowledge management

4. Capabilities-based competition

5. “Collaborate, consolidate, or die”

Five Business Trends….Five Business Trends….

http://socialent.aztech-cs.com/resources/articles/five_business/

“Collaborate, Consolidate, or Die”

• People are reluctant to merge or collaborate because they fear a loss of independence

• As long as leaders maintain a focus on the community, everyone will win

Why will such a focus ensure a positive outcome for all participants?

Five Five BusinessBusiness Trends…. Trends….

http://socialent.aztech-cs.com/resources/articles/five_business/

How will these business trends, if implemented, affect community behavior?

Building a Sustainable Innovation Organization

Teams of Empowered Employees

attract and retain good employees with applicable talents, skills and expertise

organize in small groups

delegate responsibility

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/innovation_aweorg.html

Building a Sustainable Innovation OrganizationAnalyzing and Improving Organizations The 7 S’s

Strategy? Structure? Systems? Style? Skills? Staff? Shared values?http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/innovation_aweorg.html

Managing InnovationSeven Areas of Innovation Strategy Business Organizational Product Process Technology Marketing

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/innovation_mgmt_main.html

Evaluation

Evaluation- Determines the Worth of a Thing; Obtains Information for Use in Judging Worth of a Program, Product, Procedure, Objective

Evaluation (Cont’d)

Evaluation Systematic Process Designed to Reduce Uncertainty About the Effectiveness of a Particular Project

Evaluation Determines Whether Targets Have Been Met

Evaluation If Not Required Should Be Included for the Good of the Project

Evaluation (Cont’d)

Context Or Antecedent EvaluationAnswers the Question of What Factors/Risks Exist in the Project’s Environment or History That May Influence Project Conduct and Outcomes. (Useful to Project Staff and Others, but Rarely Requested). Will Apprise Organization Staff of Environmental Variables That Could “Contaminate Findings,” or Inhibit Project Implementation

Formative EvaluationInformation Used to Improve Project During Its Operation. Primary Audience Is Organization Staff. Allows Modifications to Be Made. COUNTERPART TO THE PROCESS OBJECTIVE, Sometimes Called PROCESS EVALUATION. It Is ESSENTIALLY A GOOD MANAGEMENT TOOL. (Rarely Requested by Funding Sources in a Direct Way.)

Evaluation (Cont’d)

Summative/Product EvaluationInvolves Collecting Data to Determine the Ultimate Success of the Completed Project. Major Purpose Is to Document the Extent to Which the Project’s Proposed Outcomes Were Achieved. Funding Source Is Key Recipient.

Pay-Off/Impact EvaluationCan Occur at “Formative” and “Summative Stages”. Concerned With Finding Out Whether Project’s Achievement Are of VALUE. Value of Its Effects. (Useful to Wide Range of Audiences.)

ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY BEHAVIOR SOWO 239

Organization and Community - Admin. Ethics

- Study Committees - Progressive SoWo

Understanding Organizations

Traditional Approaches to Organizational Structure

Organizational Assessment - Life Cycle - Leadership - Technology

Theories/Models of Community Practice

Communities: Large Organizations

Organizational Theory from Transformational Perspective

- Paradigm Shifting

Feminist Perspectives

Power, Dependency Social Justice - Power in Orgs.

- Patriarchy in SoWo

Decision-Making - Motivation

- Ethical Decisions

Inter-Organizational Coordination - Team Building

- Managing People

Managing Diversity - Cultural Competence

Organizational Effectiveness, Change, and Innovation

- Conflict

COMMUNITY BEHAVIOR

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR