Robert K. Christensen
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199204762
- eISBN:
- 9780191603860
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199204764.003.0003
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
The Westphalian paradigm suggests that sovereign nation-states formally constitute the only legitimate institutions of international policy creation, enactment, and enforcement. This paper seeks to ...
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The Westphalian paradigm suggests that sovereign nation-states formally constitute the only legitimate institutions of international policy creation, enactment, and enforcement. This paper seeks to highlight the policy potency of nongovernmental organizations by turning to a debate that questions the relevancy of the Westphalian paradigm. One of the most contentious points in this debate is the role and legitimacy of the various actors involved in globalization. The mechanism of ‘soft law’ is discussed, which allows non-state actors to participate — in an increasingly formalized way — in policy processes traditionally and even exclusively populated by sovereign nation states. Ostrom et al.’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework is used to clarify the institutional implications of non-sovereigns in policy formation. Ultimately, the soft law mechanism illustrates that the informal sector is gaining access — as and through NGOs — to powerful policy networks where formal sovereignty is decreasingly relevant.Less
The Westphalian paradigm suggests that sovereign nation-states formally constitute the only legitimate institutions of international policy creation, enactment, and enforcement. This paper seeks to highlight the policy potency of nongovernmental organizations by turning to a debate that questions the relevancy of the Westphalian paradigm. One of the most contentious points in this debate is the role and legitimacy of the various actors involved in globalization. The mechanism of ‘soft law’ is discussed, which allows non-state actors to participate — in an increasingly formalized way — in policy processes traditionally and even exclusively populated by sovereign nation states. Ostrom et al.’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework is used to clarify the institutional implications of non-sovereigns in policy formation. Ultimately, the soft law mechanism illustrates that the informal sector is gaining access — as and through NGOs — to powerful policy networks where formal sovereignty is decreasingly relevant.
Elisabeth S. Clemens
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- September 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780226559360
- eISBN:
- 9780226670973
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226670973.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Comparative and Historical Sociology
Civic Gifts traces how practices of reciprocity and organized mass benevolence—that is, philanthropy—have contributed to the development of novel forms of national solidarity and impressive governing ...
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Civic Gifts traces how practices of reciprocity and organized mass benevolence—that is, philanthropy—have contributed to the development of novel forms of national solidarity and impressive governing capacities in the United States, contributing even to a famously anti-statist political culture. Sociologist Elisabeth Clemens paints a picture of the US, whether as nation or as state, as a puzzle. How, she asks, did a sense of shared nationhood develop despite the linguistic, religious, and ethnic differences among the settlers? How did a global power emerge from an often anti-statist political culture? How did some version of this collective identity come to be articulated with organized governance? With Civic Gifts, Clemens reveals that an important piece of the answer to these questions can be found in the unexpected political uses of philanthropy and the power of gifts to mobilize communities and to create solidarity among strangers.Less
Civic Gifts traces how practices of reciprocity and organized mass benevolence—that is, philanthropy—have contributed to the development of novel forms of national solidarity and impressive governing capacities in the United States, contributing even to a famously anti-statist political culture. Sociologist Elisabeth Clemens paints a picture of the US, whether as nation or as state, as a puzzle. How, she asks, did a sense of shared nationhood develop despite the linguistic, religious, and ethnic differences among the settlers? How did a global power emerge from an often anti-statist political culture? How did some version of this collective identity come to be articulated with organized governance? With Civic Gifts, Clemens reveals that an important piece of the answer to these questions can be found in the unexpected political uses of philanthropy and the power of gifts to mobilize communities and to create solidarity among strangers.
Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Terry Nichols Clark
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- April 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780252040436
- eISBN:
- 9780252098857
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Illinois Press
- DOI:
- 10.5406/illinois/9780252040436.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Civil society organizations, nonprofit organizations, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and a variety of formal and informal associations have coalesced into a world political ...
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Civil society organizations, nonprofit organizations, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and a variety of formal and informal associations have coalesced into a world political force. Though the components of this so-called third sector vary by country, their cumulative effects play an ever-greater role in global affairs. Looking at relief and welfare organizations, innovation organizations, social networks, and many other kinds of groups, this book explores the functions, impacts, and composition of the nonprofit sector in six key countries. Chinese organizations, for example, follow the predominantly Asian model of government funding that links their mission to national political goals. Western groups, by contrast, often explicitly challenge government objectives, and even gain relevance and cache by doing so. In addition, the book examines groups in real-world contexts, providing a wealth of political-historical background, in-depth consideration of interactions with state institutions, region-by-region comparisons, and suggestions for how groups can borrow policy options across systems. The book provides a rare international view of organizations and agendas driving change in today's international affairs.Less
Civil society organizations, nonprofit organizations, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and a variety of formal and informal associations have coalesced into a world political force. Though the components of this so-called third sector vary by country, their cumulative effects play an ever-greater role in global affairs. Looking at relief and welfare organizations, innovation organizations, social networks, and many other kinds of groups, this book explores the functions, impacts, and composition of the nonprofit sector in six key countries. Chinese organizations, for example, follow the predominantly Asian model of government funding that links their mission to national political goals. Western groups, by contrast, often explicitly challenge government objectives, and even gain relevance and cache by doing so. In addition, the book examines groups in real-world contexts, providing a wealth of political-historical background, in-depth consideration of interactions with state institutions, region-by-region comparisons, and suggestions for how groups can borrow policy options across systems. The book provides a rare international view of organizations and agendas driving change in today's international affairs.
Christopher P. Scheitle
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199733521
- eISBN:
- 9780199866281
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199733521.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter explores nine activity sectors within the Christian nonprofit population: Charismatic Evangelism, Relief & Development, Education & Training, Publishing & Resources, Radio & Television, ...
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This chapter explores nine activity sectors within the Christian nonprofit population: Charismatic Evangelism, Relief & Development, Education & Training, Publishing & Resources, Radio & Television, Missions & Missionary, Fellowship & Enrichment, Advocacy & Activism, and Fund-Raising, Grant-Making, & Other. Each sector is described and profiles of select organizations are provided.Less
This chapter explores nine activity sectors within the Christian nonprofit population: Charismatic Evangelism, Relief & Development, Education & Training, Publishing & Resources, Radio & Television, Missions & Missionary, Fellowship & Enrichment, Advocacy & Activism, and Fund-Raising, Grant-Making, & Other. Each sector is described and profiles of select organizations are provided.
Stacy Landreth Grau
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- July 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190090807
- eISBN:
- 9780190090838
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190090807.001.0001
- Subject:
- Social Work, Communities and Organizations
Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations: Insights and Innovations, Second Edition, is a comprehensive overview of the marketing process written specifically for nonprofit and social impact ...
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Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations: Insights and Innovations, Second Edition, is a comprehensive overview of the marketing process written specifically for nonprofit and social impact organizations. This book covers topics important to nonprofit professionals: branding; target audience selection; strategy; promotional tactics, including social media; and marketing evaluation. The “Insights” sections are based primarily on academic research that has been published and now translated into usable information for marketing professionals. The “Innovations” sections highlight organizations that are doing things in a different way and topics that are relatively new to the field. This second edition includes many updated examples as well as new information on several topics such as social enterprise, design thinking, collective impact, and narratives in nonprofits. Readers will find an organized, easy-to-read overview of important considerations in marketing for new and established nonprofit organizations and foundations.Less
Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations: Insights and Innovations, Second Edition, is a comprehensive overview of the marketing process written specifically for nonprofit and social impact organizations. This book covers topics important to nonprofit professionals: branding; target audience selection; strategy; promotional tactics, including social media; and marketing evaluation. The “Insights” sections are based primarily on academic research that has been published and now translated into usable information for marketing professionals. The “Innovations” sections highlight organizations that are doing things in a different way and topics that are relatively new to the field. This second edition includes many updated examples as well as new information on several topics such as social enterprise, design thinking, collective impact, and narratives in nonprofits. Readers will find an organized, easy-to-read overview of important considerations in marketing for new and established nonprofit organizations and foundations.
Jeremy R. Levine
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- May 2022
- ISBN:
- 9780691193649
- eISBN:
- 9780691205885
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691193649.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
Who makes decisions that shape the housing, policies, and social programs in urban neighborhoods? Who, in other words, governs? This book offers a rich ethnographic portrait of the individuals who ...
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Who makes decisions that shape the housing, policies, and social programs in urban neighborhoods? Who, in other words, governs? This book offers a rich ethnographic portrait of the individuals who implement community development projects in the Fairmount Corridor, one of Boston's poorest areas. The book uncovers a network of nonprofits and philanthropic foundations making governance decisions alongside public officials—a public–private structure that has implications for democratic representation and neighborhood inequality. The book's author spent four years following key players in Boston's community development field. While state senators and city councilors are often the public face of new projects, and residents seem empowered through opportunities to participate in public meetings, the author found a shadow government of nonprofit leaders and philanthropic funders, nonelected neighborhood representatives with their own particular objectives, working behind the scenes. Tying this system together were political performances of “community”—government and nonprofit leaders, all claiming to value the community. The author argues that there is no such thing as a singular community voice, meaning any claim of community representation is, by definition, illusory. The author shows how community development is as much about constructing the idea of community as it is about the construction of physical buildings in poor neighborhoods. The book demonstrates how the nonprofit sector has become integral to urban policymaking, and the tensions and trade-offs that emerge when private nonprofits take on the work of public service provision.Less
Who makes decisions that shape the housing, policies, and social programs in urban neighborhoods? Who, in other words, governs? This book offers a rich ethnographic portrait of the individuals who implement community development projects in the Fairmount Corridor, one of Boston's poorest areas. The book uncovers a network of nonprofits and philanthropic foundations making governance decisions alongside public officials—a public–private structure that has implications for democratic representation and neighborhood inequality. The book's author spent four years following key players in Boston's community development field. While state senators and city councilors are often the public face of new projects, and residents seem empowered through opportunities to participate in public meetings, the author found a shadow government of nonprofit leaders and philanthropic funders, nonelected neighborhood representatives with their own particular objectives, working behind the scenes. Tying this system together were political performances of “community”—government and nonprofit leaders, all claiming to value the community. The author argues that there is no such thing as a singular community voice, meaning any claim of community representation is, by definition, illusory. The author shows how community development is as much about constructing the idea of community as it is about the construction of physical buildings in poor neighborhoods. The book demonstrates how the nonprofit sector has become integral to urban policymaking, and the tensions and trade-offs that emerge when private nonprofits take on the work of public service provision.
Nina Eliasoph
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691147093
- eISBN:
- 9781400838820
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691147093.003.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Stratification, Inequality, and Mobility
This chapter is an overview of “empowerment projects.” It shows how empowerment projects are supposed to blend different kinds of people and different kinds of organizations—civic association, state ...
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This chapter is an overview of “empowerment projects.” It shows how empowerment projects are supposed to blend different kinds of people and different kinds of organizations—civic association, state agency, nonprofit organization, family, and cultural tradition. Since funding is usually short-term, all of this blending has to happen flexibly, rapidly, and transparently, with documentation for multiple sources, each with a separate form. Organizers celebrate all this melting of stiff boundaries, finding it exciting and empowering. But the blending also produces tensions, as it is often hard to juggle this many different types of relationships all in one place, all at once.Less
This chapter is an overview of “empowerment projects.” It shows how empowerment projects are supposed to blend different kinds of people and different kinds of organizations—civic association, state agency, nonprofit organization, family, and cultural tradition. Since funding is usually short-term, all of this blending has to happen flexibly, rapidly, and transparently, with documentation for multiple sources, each with a separate form. Organizers celebrate all this melting of stiff boundaries, finding it exciting and empowering. But the blending also produces tensions, as it is often hard to juggle this many different types of relationships all in one place, all at once.
Michael Weinstein and Ralph Bradburd
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780231158367
- eISBN:
- 9780231535243
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231158367.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization focused on alleviating poverty in New York City. One of the book's authors is the foundation's senior vice president. In that role he developed ...
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The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization focused on alleviating poverty in New York City. One of the book's authors is the foundation's senior vice president. In that role he developed its metrics-based approach, called “relentless monetization,” to ensure that the money the foundation receives and grants is used most effectively. The other author has served as long-time consultant to Robin Hood on matters of metrics. This book shows how to implement the Robin Hood approach and explains how any nonprofit organizations or philanthropic donor can use it to achieve the greatest benefit from every philanthropic dollar. Drawing on extensive knowledge, the text devotes specific chapters to the difficulties most frequently encountered by donors trying to measure the benefits of their initiatives. This book provides straightforward, targeted advice for funding “smart” nonprofit programs.Less
The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization focused on alleviating poverty in New York City. One of the book's authors is the foundation's senior vice president. In that role he developed its metrics-based approach, called “relentless monetization,” to ensure that the money the foundation receives and grants is used most effectively. The other author has served as long-time consultant to Robin Hood on matters of metrics. This book shows how to implement the Robin Hood approach and explains how any nonprofit organizations or philanthropic donor can use it to achieve the greatest benefit from every philanthropic dollar. Drawing on extensive knowledge, the text devotes specific chapters to the difficulties most frequently encountered by donors trying to measure the benefits of their initiatives. This book provides straightforward, targeted advice for funding “smart” nonprofit programs.
Pat Libby
- Published in print:
- 2022
- Published Online:
- March 2022
- ISBN:
- 9780197601631
- eISBN:
- 9780197601662
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780197601631.001.0001
- Subject:
- Social Work, Social Policy
Politics is no longer a spectator sport. Citizens are taking to the streets to demand lawmakers change public policies. But there’s more to making law than protesting. This book is for anyone who ...
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Politics is no longer a spectator sport. Citizens are taking to the streets to demand lawmakers change public policies. But there’s more to making law than protesting. This book is for anyone who wants to try their hand at passing or repealing a law, regardless of whether you’ve tried and failed in the past or are making your first attempt. It provides a simple-to-use step-by-step framework that breaks down the lawmaking process into bite-sized pieces. The framework has been successfully used by citizen advocates to pass important laws on their first try. If you are passionate about creating change in your community, city, or state this book provide a simple recipe for how you can achieve your goal.Less
Politics is no longer a spectator sport. Citizens are taking to the streets to demand lawmakers change public policies. But there’s more to making law than protesting. This book is for anyone who wants to try their hand at passing or repealing a law, regardless of whether you’ve tried and failed in the past or are making your first attempt. It provides a simple-to-use step-by-step framework that breaks down the lawmaking process into bite-sized pieces. The framework has been successfully used by citizen advocates to pass important laws on their first try. If you are passionate about creating change in your community, city, or state this book provide a simple recipe for how you can achieve your goal.
Ruth Weatherall
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- May 2022
- ISBN:
- 9781529210194
- eISBN:
- 9781529210231
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529210194.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Organization Studies
Drawing from an ethnography with a feminist anti-violence collective, this book explores how we can reimagine the relationship between academia and activism to create novel opportunities for social ...
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Drawing from an ethnography with a feminist anti-violence collective, this book explores how we can reimagine the relationship between academia and activism to create novel opportunities for social change. The book tells two interconnected stories: the story of a collective fighting gendered violence in an ever-shifting non-profit sector context and the story of an ethnographer learning from the collective about identity and social change. Rather than offering a prescriptive account of how academics can collaborate with activists, these intertwined stories ask us to question how we draw lines between what counts as academic/activist, theory/practice, reason/emotion, and mind/body. Unfixing these lines helps us to develop our imaginative capacity for identifying and dismantling injustice and share tools to (re)build a more just world. This book is an account of the social justice tools of feminist anti-violence activists including strong emotions and alternative organising, the unsettling the gendered body, and storytelling about feminist identity. This book is also an account of how those tools were taken up to reimagine academic activism. Beyond asking us how we might ‘do good’, however, this book asks us what we might become.Less
Drawing from an ethnography with a feminist anti-violence collective, this book explores how we can reimagine the relationship between academia and activism to create novel opportunities for social change. The book tells two interconnected stories: the story of a collective fighting gendered violence in an ever-shifting non-profit sector context and the story of an ethnographer learning from the collective about identity and social change. Rather than offering a prescriptive account of how academics can collaborate with activists, these intertwined stories ask us to question how we draw lines between what counts as academic/activist, theory/practice, reason/emotion, and mind/body. Unfixing these lines helps us to develop our imaginative capacity for identifying and dismantling injustice and share tools to (re)build a more just world. This book is an account of the social justice tools of feminist anti-violence activists including strong emotions and alternative organising, the unsettling the gendered body, and storytelling about feminist identity. This book is also an account of how those tools were taken up to reimagine academic activism. Beyond asking us how we might ‘do good’, however, this book asks us what we might become.
Michael A. Carrier
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195342581
- eISBN:
- 9780199867035
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195342581.003.0011
- Subject:
- Law, Intellectual Property, IT, and Media Law
Research tools used by scientists are essential for innovation in the biotechnology industry. In recent years, the patenting of such tools has skyrocketed with many scholars and organizations ...
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Research tools used by scientists are essential for innovation in the biotechnology industry. In recent years, the patenting of such tools has skyrocketed with many scholars and organizations lamenting this development. They have focused, in particular, on reduced access to research tools and an “anticommons” characterized by multiple patentees exercising rights to exclude. This chapter addresses the question of whether scientists are able to use patented research tools. It argues that industry and academia have forged a relationship that, at least at the present time, has displaced the need for changes to the law. The chapter offers three proposals that could be implemented if the situation changes. First is to protect “experimentation” on the invention, which uses the invention to study its technology or design around the patent. Second, it offers an amendment to the Bayh–Dole Act (which encouraged the commercialization of nonprofit inventions) that would require universities and nonprofit institutions to reserve the right to use the invention for non-commercial research. Third, it recommends empirical study of user innovation among research tool innovators.Less
Research tools used by scientists are essential for innovation in the biotechnology industry. In recent years, the patenting of such tools has skyrocketed with many scholars and organizations lamenting this development. They have focused, in particular, on reduced access to research tools and an “anticommons” characterized by multiple patentees exercising rights to exclude. This chapter addresses the question of whether scientists are able to use patented research tools. It argues that industry and academia have forged a relationship that, at least at the present time, has displaced the need for changes to the law. The chapter offers three proposals that could be implemented if the situation changes. First is to protect “experimentation” on the invention, which uses the invention to study its technology or design around the patent. Second, it offers an amendment to the Bayh–Dole Act (which encouraged the commercialization of nonprofit inventions) that would require universities and nonprofit institutions to reserve the right to use the invention for non-commercial research. Third, it recommends empirical study of user innovation among research tool innovators.
Alex Posecznick
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781501707582
- eISBN:
- 9781501708404
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501707582.001.0001
- Subject:
- Education, Higher and Further Education
It has long been assumed that college admission should be a simple matter of sorting students according to merit, with the best heading off to the Ivy League and highly ranked liberal arts colleges ...
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It has long been assumed that college admission should be a simple matter of sorting students according to merit, with the best heading off to the Ivy League and highly ranked liberal arts colleges and the rest falling naturally into their rightful places. Admission to selective institutions, where extremely fine distinctions are made, is characterized by heated public debates about whether standardized exams, high school transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, or interviews best indicate which prospective students are worthy. And then there is college for everyone else. But what goes into less-selective college admissions? Ravenwood College was a small, private, nonprofit institution dedicated to social justice and serving traditionally underprepared students from underrepresented minority groups. To survive in the higher education marketplace, the college had to operate like a business and negotiate complex categories of merit while painting a hopeful picture of the future for its applicants. This book is a snapshot of a particular type of institution as it goes about the business of producing itself and justifying its place in the market. This book documents what it takes to keep such an institution open and running, and the struggles, tensions, and battles that members of the community tangle with daily as they carefully walk the line between empowering marginalized students and exploiting them.Less
It has long been assumed that college admission should be a simple matter of sorting students according to merit, with the best heading off to the Ivy League and highly ranked liberal arts colleges and the rest falling naturally into their rightful places. Admission to selective institutions, where extremely fine distinctions are made, is characterized by heated public debates about whether standardized exams, high school transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, or interviews best indicate which prospective students are worthy. And then there is college for everyone else. But what goes into less-selective college admissions? Ravenwood College was a small, private, nonprofit institution dedicated to social justice and serving traditionally underprepared students from underrepresented minority groups. To survive in the higher education marketplace, the college had to operate like a business and negotiate complex categories of merit while painting a hopeful picture of the future for its applicants. This book is a snapshot of a particular type of institution as it goes about the business of producing itself and justifying its place in the market. This book documents what it takes to keep such an institution open and running, and the struggles, tensions, and battles that members of the community tangle with daily as they carefully walk the line between empowering marginalized students and exploiting them.
Paul-Brian McInerney
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780804785129
- eISBN:
- 9780804789066
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804785129.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Politics, Social Movements and Social Change
What happens when social movement ideals meet market principles? Based on a three-year ethnography of a technology movement, this book shows how social movements make and shape markets. To illustrate ...
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What happens when social movement ideals meet market principles? Based on a three-year ethnography of a technology movement, this book shows how social movements make and shape markets. To illustrate how movements shape markets this book tells the story of the “Circuit Riders,” a group of social justice activists dedicated to sparking a technology revolution among grassroots and nonprofit organizations. The movement enrolled and mobilized many activists, growing 10,000 strong in just a few years. But market forces soon derailed the revolution. With the support of multinational corporations, a new organization recognized a nascent market in the wake of the Circuit Rider movement. Called NPower, this social enterprise combined social values, like helping nonprofit organizations and market practices, like charging fees for service and developing complex performance metrics. NPower experienced nearly instant success tapping foundation funding and corporate support to forge a market for technology services in the nonprofit sector. Even in decline, the Circuit Riders continued to shape the market they inadvertently created. By mobilizing open source technologies and offering low-cost technology to those in need, the Circuit Riders became a necessary check on otherwise unfettered market forces.Less
What happens when social movement ideals meet market principles? Based on a three-year ethnography of a technology movement, this book shows how social movements make and shape markets. To illustrate how movements shape markets this book tells the story of the “Circuit Riders,” a group of social justice activists dedicated to sparking a technology revolution among grassroots and nonprofit organizations. The movement enrolled and mobilized many activists, growing 10,000 strong in just a few years. But market forces soon derailed the revolution. With the support of multinational corporations, a new organization recognized a nascent market in the wake of the Circuit Rider movement. Called NPower, this social enterprise combined social values, like helping nonprofit organizations and market practices, like charging fees for service and developing complex performance metrics. NPower experienced nearly instant success tapping foundation funding and corporate support to forge a market for technology services in the nonprofit sector. Even in decline, the Circuit Riders continued to shape the market they inadvertently created. By mobilizing open source technologies and offering low-cost technology to those in need, the Circuit Riders became a necessary check on otherwise unfettered market forces.
James A. Phills Jr.
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
Today's nonprofit organizations face an environment characterized by higher levels of competition for funding, clients and audiences, talent, and recognition. In addition, they confront greater ...
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Today's nonprofit organizations face an environment characterized by higher levels of competition for funding, clients and audiences, talent, and recognition. In addition, they confront greater pressures from donors, government, and the public to demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and accountability, while intense social needs and problems, as well as the desire for growth, drive them to expand their programs and activities. Collectively, these challenges go to the heart of fundamental issues of mission and strategy. This book applies and adapts the core body of general management knowledge about mission, strategy, and execution to help nonprofit leaders deal with the special challenges they face. It strives to draw on this knowledge in a way that does not dilute or oversimplify, and at the same time recognizes the unique features of the nonprofit or voluntary sector. The book develops an action-oriented framework that combines rigorous analysis with the practical challenge of execution and change. In addition to helping nonprofit leaders think through important decisions and make concrete choices, the book also provides a shared language and a discipline that can serve as the basis for more productive discussions between the individuals who lead nonprofits, the business executives who serve on their boards, and the philanthropists who support their organizations and programs. This last objective is critical, because too often nonprofit leaders and board members complain that they can't reap the benefits of the expertise of their supporters, funders, and volunteers from the business sector.Less
Today's nonprofit organizations face an environment characterized by higher levels of competition for funding, clients and audiences, talent, and recognition. In addition, they confront greater pressures from donors, government, and the public to demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and accountability, while intense social needs and problems, as well as the desire for growth, drive them to expand their programs and activities. Collectively, these challenges go to the heart of fundamental issues of mission and strategy. This book applies and adapts the core body of general management knowledge about mission, strategy, and execution to help nonprofit leaders deal with the special challenges they face. It strives to draw on this knowledge in a way that does not dilute or oversimplify, and at the same time recognizes the unique features of the nonprofit or voluntary sector. The book develops an action-oriented framework that combines rigorous analysis with the practical challenge of execution and change. In addition to helping nonprofit leaders think through important decisions and make concrete choices, the book also provides a shared language and a discipline that can serve as the basis for more productive discussions between the individuals who lead nonprofits, the business executives who serve on their boards, and the philanthropists who support their organizations and programs. This last objective is critical, because too often nonprofit leaders and board members complain that they can't reap the benefits of the expertise of their supporters, funders, and volunteers from the business sector.
James A. Phills
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.003.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
There is limited progress in solving the most pressing social problems and addressing fundamental needs despite the magnitude of resources in the hands of nonprofit organizations. Taking an ...
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There is limited progress in solving the most pressing social problems and addressing fundamental needs despite the magnitude of resources in the hands of nonprofit organizations. Taking an organizational approach can help strengthen the nonprofit organizations that are central to social progress. The premise is that if when the leadership, management, and organizational capacity of the sector are improved, other factors will follow. The importance of leadership, management, and organizational capability are shown in this chapter. It is essential to avoid broad generalizations about the differences between the nonprofit organizations and businesses that mask or ignore fundamental similarities with respect to central management and leadership challenges. Determination of the features of individual organizations that influence the applicability of a particular conceptual framework is important. The three fundamental building blocks of organizational effectiveness, namely direction, motivation, and design, are described.Less
There is limited progress in solving the most pressing social problems and addressing fundamental needs despite the magnitude of resources in the hands of nonprofit organizations. Taking an organizational approach can help strengthen the nonprofit organizations that are central to social progress. The premise is that if when the leadership, management, and organizational capacity of the sector are improved, other factors will follow. The importance of leadership, management, and organizational capability are shown in this chapter. It is essential to avoid broad generalizations about the differences between the nonprofit organizations and businesses that mask or ignore fundamental similarities with respect to central management and leadership challenges. Determination of the features of individual organizations that influence the applicability of a particular conceptual framework is important. The three fundamental building blocks of organizational effectiveness, namely direction, motivation, and design, are described.
James A. Phills
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.003.0002
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
This chapter introduces the idea of mission and, in particular, the different functions of a mission, as well as its inherent limitations. In order to gain some insight into the notion of mission, ...
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This chapter introduces the idea of mission and, in particular, the different functions of a mission, as well as its inherent limitations. In order to gain some insight into the notion of mission, one must think about what mission is not and what it should not be expected to do for an organization, as well as what mission is and what it should be expected to do. The mission is related to economic logic. The Collins and Porras' description of each of the components of mission and how they are manifested in the corporate sector is reviewed in this chapter. Then the chapter gives examples and applications from the nonprofit sector that illustrate ways in which the fundamental social purpose of nonprofit organizations can make this framework even more powerful than it is in the world of business. Furthermore, the four components identified by Collins and Porras are examined.Less
This chapter introduces the idea of mission and, in particular, the different functions of a mission, as well as its inherent limitations. In order to gain some insight into the notion of mission, one must think about what mission is not and what it should not be expected to do for an organization, as well as what mission is and what it should be expected to do. The mission is related to economic logic. The Collins and Porras' description of each of the components of mission and how they are manifested in the corporate sector is reviewed in this chapter. Then the chapter gives examples and applications from the nonprofit sector that illustrate ways in which the fundamental social purpose of nonprofit organizations can make this framework even more powerful than it is in the world of business. Furthermore, the four components identified by Collins and Porras are examined.
James A. Phills
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.003.0003
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
This chapter explores the purpose and importance of strategy for the nonprofit organization. It also examines a framework for developing, articulating, and evaluating strategy, and shows how to apply ...
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This chapter explores the purpose and importance of strategy for the nonprofit organization. It also examines a framework for developing, articulating, and evaluating strategy, and shows how to apply this framework in practice. The understanding on what it is and from where it came is described. The focus of this chapter is on the firm, where competitive advantage is the most central concept. The three elements of complete strategy, namely scope, competitive advantage, and logic, are discussed.Less
This chapter explores the purpose and importance of strategy for the nonprofit organization. It also examines a framework for developing, articulating, and evaluating strategy, and shows how to apply this framework in practice. The understanding on what it is and from where it came is described. The focus of this chapter is on the firm, where competitive advantage is the most central concept. The three elements of complete strategy, namely scope, competitive advantage, and logic, are discussed.
James A. Phills
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
This chapter deals with the understanding and analyzing of the organization's competitive environment in which strategies are produced. It begins with an extensive description and explication of the ...
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This chapter deals with the understanding and analyzing of the organization's competitive environment in which strategies are produced. It begins with an extensive description and explication of the ideas in the for-profit setting and with the ways the framework can be adapted for use in the nonprofit setting. The focus is placed on how industry analysis provides a systematic way of identifying the key external challenges that must be addressed in the development and evaluation of strategy. In addition, a framework for analyzing industry structure and thinking through the implications for strategy is illustrated. Porter's five forces framework highlight the fact that competitors are not the only actors whose behavior affects a firm's profitability; other players can also siphon off the value created by firms in an industry. Some of the practical issues in conducting an industry analysis in a real-world settings are addressed.Less
This chapter deals with the understanding and analyzing of the organization's competitive environment in which strategies are produced. It begins with an extensive description and explication of the ideas in the for-profit setting and with the ways the framework can be adapted for use in the nonprofit setting. The focus is placed on how industry analysis provides a systematic way of identifying the key external challenges that must be addressed in the development and evaluation of strategy. In addition, a framework for analyzing industry structure and thinking through the implications for strategy is illustrated. Porter's five forces framework highlight the fact that competitors are not the only actors whose behavior affects a firm's profitability; other players can also siphon off the value created by firms in an industry. Some of the practical issues in conducting an industry analysis in a real-world settings are addressed.
James A. Phills
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195171280
- eISBN:
- 9780199850327
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171280.003.0007
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
This chapter examines the role of leadership in formulating and then executing the mission and strategy of a nonprofit organization. In particular, these tasks are associated with the functional ...
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This chapter examines the role of leadership in formulating and then executing the mission and strategy of a nonprofit organization. In particular, these tasks are associated with the functional approach to leadership and the basic functions of direction, motivation, and design. The functional approach to leadership assumes that leadership cannot be disaggregated to atomistic behaviors, but rather that it is best defined in terms of the functions that must be fulfilled if the organization is to survive and thrive. Examples of how leaders fulfill the basic functions of direction, motivation, and design, drawn from both the nonprofit and for-profit world, are presented.Less
This chapter examines the role of leadership in formulating and then executing the mission and strategy of a nonprofit organization. In particular, these tasks are associated with the functional approach to leadership and the basic functions of direction, motivation, and design. The functional approach to leadership assumes that leadership cannot be disaggregated to atomistic behaviors, but rather that it is best defined in terms of the functions that must be fulfilled if the organization is to survive and thrive. Examples of how leaders fulfill the basic functions of direction, motivation, and design, drawn from both the nonprofit and for-profit world, are presented.
Ousmane Oumar Kane
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199732302
- eISBN:
- 9780199894611
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199732302.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society, Islam
This chapter provides details about Senegalese Sufi communities in New York. It focuses on the Murid and Tijani Sufi communities because they are the most visible and easily accessed groups. Their ...
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This chapter provides details about Senegalese Sufi communities in New York. It focuses on the Murid and Tijani Sufi communities because they are the most visible and easily accessed groups. Their activities are publicized on community radio programs, and recordings of their events are available for purchase. They also have good public relations strategies. The chapter shows how the largest religious groups have incorporated their organizations as nonprofit associations under the Internal Revenue Service Code 501 C 3. This means that they are officially recognized in the host society and can purchase property such as places of worship under their name. More important, as charitable organizations, they are exempt from federal income taxation. In addition, all the donations they receive from individuals and businesses are tax-deductible. This is seen as an important step in the process of institutional integration into American society. Incorporation has opened these associations to larger constituencies; in the process, it has altered somewhat their initial mission, which was to serve exclusively ethnic constituencies and preserve homeland cultural norms.Less
This chapter provides details about Senegalese Sufi communities in New York. It focuses on the Murid and Tijani Sufi communities because they are the most visible and easily accessed groups. Their activities are publicized on community radio programs, and recordings of their events are available for purchase. They also have good public relations strategies. The chapter shows how the largest religious groups have incorporated their organizations as nonprofit associations under the Internal Revenue Service Code 501 C 3. This means that they are officially recognized in the host society and can purchase property such as places of worship under their name. More important, as charitable organizations, they are exempt from federal income taxation. In addition, all the donations they receive from individuals and businesses are tax-deductible. This is seen as an important step in the process of institutional integration into American society. Incorporation has opened these associations to larger constituencies; in the process, it has altered somewhat their initial mission, which was to serve exclusively ethnic constituencies and preserve homeland cultural norms.
