Question

Consider your research project conducted for this course, which was designed to provide insight for a not-for-profit or non-government organisation.

Upon receiving and reading your report, there are some aspects of the findings that are not what the Chief Executive expected. She/he doubts the quality of your work and asks you to explain the process that you went through in designing the research project. In particular, she is concerned that your approach lacked rigour and asks you to explain the steps you employed to ensure methodological and statistical rigour - and hence ensure the reliability and validity of your findings.

Long Essay Question: Discuss the key stages of the research process. For each stage, explain the key decisions made to ensure the methodological rigour of the research design. Outline the steps undertaken to ensure the statistical reliability and validity of your research findings. Describe the potential problems that can occur when research objectives are not clearly defined.

Answer 1

Strqtegic planning for non-profits

The best planning process starts by identifying the non-profit's

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

And threats, in what is commonly called SWOT analysis. Looking at external as well as internal factors such as your own non- profits staff capacity to accomplish its goals is important.

Looking ahead and planning for the future actually should be continuous: As various factors change, the nonprofit may need to adjust its plans. While the process of bringing everyone together to plan for the future is energizing, once that is in the rearview mirror, don’t let the plan gather dust on the shelf. If no one refers to the plan after it is completed, then it’s hardly serving as a “strategic” guide! Revisit the plan periodically, making adjustments, and adapting the plan – and the nonprofit’s strategic priorities - as circumstances change. Some argue for throwing out the “plan” completely, or reducing it to a very short, concise document, easily digestible by staff and board. Articulating and perhaps visualizing an organization's "theory of change" is another way to think about "what success will look like" - how to get there, and what resources it will take to get there. There are hundreds of consultants and volumes of written materials just on strategic planning and many others that help nonprofits develop a theory of change. We've selected just a few for you below. Your state association of nonprofits may also offer educational programs and workshops throughout the year to assist your nonprofit with proactive planning. Plus, staying current with trends and policy issues that affect nonprofit operations is key to being prepared to adapt to a changing environment.