Innovation: How I Missed You

In the Crutchfield-Grant reading, the author distinguishes between two types of organizations in relation to their innovation/adaptation capacity. These two types were the "free spirits" and the "MBA's." Now considering we're are all pursuing a degree that is only one letter away from latter mentioned innovation/adaptation style, it would seem that we ARE being conditioned to accept a more structured or managerial way to foster or promote innovation. Indeed, our Charity Navigator Project and the multitude of articles that we have read in the past few weeks propagate the claim that innovative or adaptive strategies need to be measured, planned, and evaluated to be considered as "effective."

My concern with this MBA mentality is that it might stifle or discourage nonprofits from pursuing creative innovations or adaptations. Indeed, a theoretical means for measuring or planning might not exist for nonprofits who wish to pursue a 'true' innovation. I believe that a framework defining effectiveness is a necessity in today's society, but could such a framework also suppress an organization's willingness to innovate?

What do you guys think?

P.S. I have been attempting to read Ayn Rand recently, and might explain my post a bit.

Networked Nonprofits: Innovation?

While reading "The Networked Nonprofit," I was struck by its similarity to a volunteer recruitment strategy that we read about in 551 called "concentric circles recruitment." This volunteer recruitment strategy attempts to capitalize upon the personal and professional contacts of organization members to interest and enlist volunteers for that organization or cause. To me, Kanter, Fine, and a number of nonprofits have taken this concentric circles recruitment strategy to the next level by using social media and its infinite networking capacity as a tool to mobilize people for social good.

Indeed, social media like Facebook or Twitter have allowed nonprofits to substantially increase the amount of people and networks they are able to reach, and thus expand their pool of potential supporters, fundraisers, and donors. Even my own employer, Roberson, has dramatically sought to increase its social media appeal through Facebook, but have yet to post their audits or 990's online.

Thus far, I find the Kanter/Fine book very interesting, considering last semester we concentrated on innovation in nonprofit organizations, specifically social entrepreneurship. In the beginning of last semester I had a preconceived notion of innovation as a revolutionary or novel idea that would transform the way that an organization, group, or individual could achieve social change, a "reinvention of the wheel." However, by the end of the semester I came to the realization that most innovation is merely using existing ideas or technologies to initiate beneficial social change. Kanter/Fine's ideas concerning "Networked Nonprofits" are a future means for nonprofit organizations to advance their cause or mission and are indispensable to future managers in an increasingly computerized world.