Discussions
Welcome to the OA Discussion Area. This section was created to enable you to dialogue with, and learn from, other individuals and organizations that are interested in the field of organizational assessment.
Approximately every two weeks, a new topic is posted on this page, asking for your opinion on, or contribution to, a particular question regarding OA. At the end of the two weeks, the R&L team does a synthesis of all comments posted and provides you with a summary that you can download and refer to for your work.
Topic to be discussed from Monday February 15 to Friday April 9, 2010
Topic to be discussed from Monday October 26, 2009 to Friday February 12, 2010
Introduction to topic:
An increasing number of women are being employed in senior management positions in organizations. For the following weeks, we would appreciate to get your impressions on if this will or will not affect the way organizations perform.
Topic Question:
Increasing numbers of women are being employed in senior management positions in organizations. Will this affect the way organizations perform and if so, how?
Date:
Oct 26 2009 - Feb 12 2010
Topic to be discussed from Monday July 6 to Friday September 25, 2009 (extended for summer)
Introduction to topic:
During a poll that was conducted in our pages a few weeks ago, 61% of voters said that other criteria are as important as or even more important than leadership when evaluating organizations. The other 39% said that leadership should be the most important criteria to evaluate the performance of an organization.
Topic to be discussed from Monday June 1 to Friday July 3, 2009
Introduction to topic:
To date, evaluators have adapted their existing "tool box" for evaluating networks. However, networks are special types of organizational forms, sharing some common characteristics that make conventional approaches to evaluation often suboptimal, thus reducing the learning potential of the evaluation process and results.
Topic to be discussed from Monday April 27 to May 29, 2009
Introduction to topic:
Weaknesses in governance emerge as a factor that affects the organization's work. This area is quite sensitive as governors are often volunteers most of whom spend relatively little time on matters pertaining to the not-for-profit. Yet some governors spend too much time and micromanage the affairs of the organization.
Topic Question:
As an evaluator, board member, donor or NFP leader, how should one assess the governance of a not-for-profit organization?
Date:
Apr 27 2009 - May 29 2009
Topic to be discussed from Monday March 23 to Friday April 24, 2009
Date:
Mar 23 2009 - Apr 24 2009
Synthesis of the last discussion
Synthesis of OA Discussion Topic #5, online from Monday October 26, 2009 to Friday February 12, 2010
"Increasing numbers of women are being employed in senior management positions in organizations. Will this affect the way organizations perform and if so, how? " Read the entire discussion or Read the synthesis
Upcoming discussions
This week (From Monday February 15 to Friday April 9, 2010)
What is your experience in evaluating gender equality within organizations, projects, networks, etc. Read the discussion and participate
Next topic (From Monday April 12 to Friday June 4, 2010)
How does your organization influence the environment within which it operates?
Discussion Area Instructions and Etiquette
Postings Indications
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Etiquette
Please...
- While critical thinking and debate are encouraged, please always remain respectful and non-aggressive in your postings. Do not turn the discussion into personal debates; focus on content, not on the person.
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Note: Discussions can be posted in French,
English and Spanish; however there will be no translations offered.
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