Comments on: Cogito, ergo sum http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/2008/04/cogito-ergo-sum/ A blog for the business of nonprofits Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:39:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Francis http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/2008/04/cogito-ergo-sum/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Francis Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:37:15 +0000 http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/?p=43#comment-1003 And I liked, will be looking at your site. And I liked, will be looking at your site.

]]> By: Mike Cline http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/2008/04/cogito-ergo-sum/comment-page-1/#comment-399 Mike Cline Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:07:31 +0000 http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/?p=43#comment-399 What this article is really talking about is Strategic Alignment which results from two things: 1) Open planning where all the stakeholders at every echelon in an organization participate to some extent with the development of organizational strategies. And 2) An understanding of a common Strategic Planning and Execution framework by all those who must execute the strategy. Absent those two things: for the average employee, executing strategy is not their day job!. The result is generally a lot of hard working people, exceling tactically at what they do, but many times doing so in directions contrary to the organization's strategy. Strategic Thinking by John A. Warden III http://venturist.com/wordpress provides some excellent insights into strategic planning and execution methodologies that ensure Strategic Alignment. What this article is really talking about is Strategic Alignment which results from two things: 1) Open planning where all the stakeholders at every echelon in an organization participate to some extent with the development of organizational strategies. And 2) An understanding of a common Strategic Planning and Execution framework by all those who must execute the strategy. Absent those two things: for the average employee, executing strategy is not their day job!. The result is generally a lot of hard working people, exceling tactically at what they do, but many times doing so in directions contrary to the organization’s strategy.

Strategic Thinking by John A. Warden III http://venturist.com/wordpress provides some excellent insights into strategic planning and execution methodologies that ensure Strategic Alignment.

]]> By: Sam http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/2008/04/cogito-ergo-sum/comment-page-1/#comment-369 Sam Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:28:13 +0000 http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/?p=43#comment-369 Thank you for this post. I am a student in Nonprofit Leadership & Management here at Arizona State University. If I can give you - and your readers - any hope, it is this: My colleagues and I are dreaming, hoping, and thinking without drudgery. I am sure the same is true of your students. We have an amazing opportunity to learn the sector at the same time it is evolving. This is very much a "living science." While I see the same thing you do in many employees of the sector, I would like to think that those of us entering the breech (once more!) armed with a sector-specific education are better prepared to make time to "deliberate, ruminate, meditate, etc., on the key questions of [our] work." We have tackled potential organizational roadblocks conceptually, and theorized Civil Society and Social Capital until the ideas became our own. Theory is not the only tool necessary for success, but I believe it will better equip us as we transition into offices, after-school programs, and shelters throughout the country. I am not saying, though, that those already in the field without a related degree are incapable of experiencing joy, or embracing meaningful dialog. On the contrary. I believe that the ground that is being broken today is only making possible the work of tomorrow. So kudos to you, the overworked and underpaid... We'll see you soon, and we'll have lots of questions! Cheers, Sam Thank you for this post.

I am a student in Nonprofit Leadership & Management here at Arizona State University. If I can give you – and your readers – any hope, it is this: My colleagues and I are dreaming, hoping, and thinking without drudgery. I am sure the same is true of your students.

We have an amazing opportunity to learn the sector at the same time it is evolving. This is very much a “living science.” While I see the same thing you do in many employees of the sector, I would like to think that those of us entering the breech (once more!) armed with a sector-specific education are better prepared to make time to “deliberate, ruminate, meditate, etc., on the key questions of [our] work.” We have tackled potential organizational roadblocks conceptually, and theorized Civil Society and Social Capital until the ideas became our own. Theory is not the only tool necessary for success, but I believe it will better equip us as we transition into offices, after-school programs, and shelters throughout the country.

I am not saying, though, that those already in the field without a related degree are incapable of experiencing joy, or embracing meaningful dialog. On the contrary. I believe that the ground that is being broken today is only making possible the work of tomorrow. So kudos to you, the overworked and underpaid… We’ll see you soon, and we’ll have lots of questions!

Cheers,
Sam

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