Strive Case Analysis

STRIVE

EHES has unique opportunity to expend and increase number of people to go though its program. However this situation has direct threats to organization's mission and integrity.

How should EHES respond to the current wave of interest to generate additional funds?

Organization should respond positively to high interest from public and possibility of obtaining additional funds. Additional publicity creates opportunity for EHES to approach larger number of foundations for additional funds. This will help to increase the number of organization's centers to help people in need. However, additional funds can create new problems for EHES. As stated in the case, some organizations that cooperate with EHES in delivering job training are mostly interested in additional foundation funds and can have negative effect on program. As EHES publicity and funding increases, more non-profits will be interested to be associated with EHES for a wrong reason, which can negatively affect EHES. Clear selection criteria and set of expectations for new organization as well as standardization of the programs, formal contract between involved parties, and improved methods of accountability would need to created in order prevent problems stated above.

Another problem is balance between private foundations and government involvement in EHES finance. EHES was successful in obtaining funds from foundations and individuals. The funds from these sources provide flexibility and ability to focus on company's true mission and customer's needs. In contrast, government grants for non-profit organizations that provide similar services can create pressure of generating high numbers, instead of quality. Government funds can put limitations on non-profit in employment services industry. It also can lead to higher cost as it was discovered by Chicago Employment Center. The questions of obtaining new funds, its distribution and reporting is one of the important operational EHES needs to answer before expending.

With national coverage of EHES centers and services by media, organization has chance to demonstrate its outstanding results of changing people's lives to a large number of foundations and generate interest of funding new centers.

How Fast Should STRIVE grow?

Growth of the STRIVE should be dictated by the needs of its customers and funds available. With absence of one or another, any expansion or growth will result in negative outcomes and, as organizations became more visible in job training industry, will bring negative publicity. EHES's growth must be supported by healthy infrastructure of the organization, which include:

clear mission, vision and values of the organization

superior board members and their involvement in organization operation

strong financial background and ability to obtain additional funds

programs with proven results

strong leadership and management team

historically proven model of expansion

In my opinion, on current stage of organizational development EHES needs to address several issues before expending.

One of the issues EHES faces is relationship with organizations that provide EHES's services. Connection to organizations like Three Rivers Employment