Organizational Life CyclesBailey Johnson & Amanda Kurz

UGA Institute for Nonprofit Organizations

Birth Youth Midlife MaturitySize Small Medium Large Very Large

Beurocratic Nonbeurocratic Prebeurocratic Beurocratic Very Beurocratic

Division of Labor

Overlapping Tasks

Some Departments

Many Departments

extensive, with small jobs and many descriptions

Centralization one-person rule two leaders

ruletwo department heads

top-management

heavy

Formalization no written rules few rulespolicy

procedures and manuals

extensive

Administrative Intensity

secretary, no professional

staff

increasing clerical and

maintenance

increasing professional

and staff support

large--multiple departments

Internal Systems nonexistant

crude budget and

information system

control systems in

place; budget, performance, reports, etc..

extensive -- planning,

financial, and personnel

addedLateral

Teams, task forces for

coordinationnone top leaders

only

some use of integrators and task forces

frequent at lower levels to

break down bureaucracy

5 Life Stages of Nonprofit Organizations

Stage One: Imagine and Inspire ("Can the dream be realized?")Stage Two: Found and Frame ("How are we going to pull this off?")Stage Three: Ground and Grow ("How can we build this to be viable?")Stage Four: Produce and Sustain ("How can the momentum be sustained?")Stage Five: Review and Renew ("What do we need to redesign?") Simon, J.S. (2001)

Quinn & Cameron, 1983(i) creativity and entrepreneurship stage, whereby innovation, marshaling of resources for survival and concentration on input activities are important

(ii) collectivity stage, where emphasis is placed upon communication and cohesion, which is associated with an internal process, becomes top priority

(iii) formalization and control stage, which focuses on stability, control and production efficiency

(iv) structure elaboration and adaption stage, where domain expansion and flexibility become a growing concern.

Organizational Change

Effective Change

Phase 1: Motivating ChangePhase 2: Creating VisionPhase 3: Developing Political SupportPhase 4: Managing TransitionPhase 5: Sustaining Momentum

Roles During Change

Change InitiatorChange AgentChampion for ChangeSponsor for ChangeLeadership, Supervision and Delegation

Application Activity

Split into groups.Read the article.Describe in which stage of the organizational life cycle this nonprofit orgainzation resides. How can you tell?What changes would you recommend for this organization to further develop or move to the next stage?

Resources

McNamara, C. (2008). Field guide to leadership and supervision. Minneapolis, MN: Authenticity Consulting.www.managementhelp.orgChin, D.C.W. (1994). Organizational life cycle: a review and proposed directions for research. Mid-Atlantic Journal of Business. From www.allbusiness.com.