Not planning but way-finding: critical strategic thinking for Southern NGOs

Author:

Jammulamadaka Nimruji

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to explore the benefits of strategy as way-finding approach to strategic thinking suggested by Robert Chia for small community-based Southern NGOs. The purpose is to find alternatives to the strategic planning (SP) approach. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the perspective of phronesis (Flyvbjerg, 2006) using the case study of a 45-year-old NGO based in India and working for community development. The data has been collected for over more than 20 years. Qualitative analysis of the data has been done by focusing on the activities that were performed in keeping with the requirements of phronetic research. Findings The study finds that through way-finding approach to strategic thinking, a Southern NGO is able to manage and reduce its resource dependence while maintaining organizational autonomy and pursuing its vision. The approach avoids the pathologies produced through SP in such organisations. Research limitations/implications This study adds to empirical contexts in which strategy as way-finding may be practiced. This study explicitly shows how this may be very useful to smaller community-based Southern NGOs. This study also adds to the research on strategy as practice by showing its relevance in the NGO sector. Practical implications This study shows alternatives to NGOs that are reluctant to engage in SP. This study also shows how NGOs can benefit from the way-finding approach to strategic thinking to improve their community connect, autonomy and impact. Social implications This study provides alternatives to resisting the power asymmetry of the global North-South development agenda. Originality/value This study demonstrates the usefulness of the way-finding approach to strategy in the context of smaller Third-World NGOs and provides alternatives to SP.

Publisher

Emerald

Subject

Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management,Strategy and Management

Reference78 articles.

1. Abok, A.M. (2014), “Factors affecting effective implementation of strategic plans in non-governmental organizations in Kenya”, Doctoral dissertation, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.

2. A critical look at NGOs and civil society as means to an end in Uzbekistan;Human Organization,1999

3. Critical leadership studies: the case for critical performativity;Human Relations,2012

4. Problems and challenges of non-governmental organizations in Pune city, state of Maharashtra, India Religación;Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades,2019

5. The role of NGOs and civil society in development and poverty reduction,2012

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3