Comments on: What Nonprofits Can Learn From The Digital Age: Hierarchies, Heterarchies & Networks

By: Link Love Monthly: December — SocialFish

Link Love Monthly: December — SocialFish — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:03:17 +0000

[...] What Nonprofits Can Learn From The Digital Age: Hierarchies, Heterarchies & Networks (MidCourse Corrections) [...]

By: associationjam.org

associationjam.org — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:49:00 +0000

What Nonprofits Can Learn From The Digital Age: Hierarchies, Heterarchies & Networks…

Reliability, predictability and trust are issues that nonprofit organizations and associations must embrace in the digital age, along with a new flexibility and innovation. It’s a matter of organizations learning to change and adapt to meet the new no…

By: Jeff Hurt

Jeff Hurt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:54:23 +0000

John:

Thanks for adding to the discussion. Great points about control and conversations. I’ve never understood some organizations resistance to engagement in social media. Organizational leadership allow their employees to use the telephone and email on their behalf and then for some reason get bent out of shape when their employees use social media on their behalf. Those leaders with those control issues illustrate their own distrust of their employees and their need to control things.

By: John

John — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:16:06 +0000

Control is an interesting point, I’ve always felt that the “control issue” hampers organizational adoption and effective use of social media outlets. Somewhere in the mix the idea that its a conversation is lost and as far as the organizations are concerned becomes little more than a direct marketing channel.

By: Jeff Hurt

Jeff Hurt — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:39:39 +0000

@Carrie:

Thanks for adding to the discussion. I agree with you that’s its about finding ways to bring in younger supporters. I had a conversation earlier today with a colleague who’s company had entered the social media space in the second half of the year. They felt the need to get their ducks in a row first…which is a good thing. The ironic thing was the also felt the need to “control” the conversation…their words, not mine. I laughed when they said that. I also asked the following questions: Do you trust your employees to use the phone and email correctly? They why would you also not trust your employees to use social media like Twitter correctly? They responded with, “Wow, hadn’t thought of it like that.”

By: Carrie Ferenac

Carrie Ferenac — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:02:45 +0000

Very interesting post. I tweet for a non-profit as well, and I had to convince them twitter and facebook were good ideas! I, too, believe if we don’t adapt and bring in younger supporters… the non-profits won’t be successful. Thanks for writing!

By: Jeff Hurt

Jeff Hurt — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:16:40 +0000

Dave: Thanks for the link to Breaking Down Silos and tactical steps. Business strategist and thought leader Gary Hamel has a great book about this as well, The Future Of Management. He has some interesting things to say about management styles and is an advocate of networked management. I also recommend the following short video from PBS' Small Business School about Wahoo's Fish Tacos and their heterarchy management style.

By: Dave Lutz

Dave Lutz — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:17:09 +0000

Jeff, very thought provoking post! It’s hard to keep up with the new generation and create a work environment that supports their style and also engages the Boomers. In many cases the boomers have the relationships and institutional knowledge that got you where you are today. It’s tough for an organization to throw that out the window.

I think what you describe above is the desired state, but it’s going to take baby steps to get there. The baby step approach in 2009/10 though needs to be upgraded to Toddler steps (bigger strides, increased pace). Several months ago, I wrote an article about Breaking Down Silos that may help identify some tactical steps to start with. http://www.velvetchainsaw.com/articles/Breaking_Down_Silos.pdf

Dave Lutz – @velchain