Organization Case Study

PURPOSE: In this assignment, you will study an organization operating within the social economy. This assignment requires you to apply class concepts to a real-life example that will help you understand the organization’s focus, theory of change, legal status, evolution, strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential threats. It will also give you an opportunity to refine your written and communication skills as well as make recommendations regarding where this organization should go in the future.

Worksheet Submission Requirements:

The worksheet should be completed and submitted as a formal assignment with appropriate referencing as required, using APA 7th edition.

The submission should approximate 10-15 typed pages and should include all completed sections of this worksheet as well as your analysis of the subject organization. A question-and-answer essay writing format is acceptable.

Please upload the completed worksheet and slide deck to D2L in advance of due date, otherwise late assignments will be penalized 10% per day late.

In class 1 minute Lightning Talk:

Using 3 slides, provide your classmates with a 1-minute lightning talk and overview of your organization that includes what the organization does, key learnings & what complex problem the organization seeks to address.

Electronic copy of slides to be uploaded to D2L before class.

Ensure your last slide includes references/attributions that may be required.

CONTEXT WORKSHEET Student(s) Name: ________________________________

PART A: The Match (2 pages- Steps 1, 2, 3)

Identify you/your colleague’s interests and core values. Think about three organizations that you are interested in learning more about which on the surface match the core values that are important to you. Describe each organization that best aligns with your interests & values based on the available information.

STEP 1: Core Values

Name and describe the three core values you identified as important to you at the start of this class.

1. Core value 1: _____________________________

2. Core Value 2: _____________________________

3. Core Value 3: ____________________________

Referring to the core values listed above, brainstorm and list 3 different organizations that appear – on the surface at least – to model or express the interests/values you identified above. Be sure to explain why you think they demonstrate those values. If you are not certain about which organization(s) you would like to examine, you can research and choose three from the list on the next page.

Core value 1: _____________________________

Organization: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Core Value 2: _____________________________

Organization: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Core Value 3: _____________________________

Organization: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 2: For this assignment pick one organization from the list below for your case study.

1

Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations

https://www.calgarycvo.org/

2

Vecova

3

Propellus- Volunteer Centre of Calgary

https://www.propellus.org/

4

Decidedly Jazz Danceworks

https://www.decidedlyjazz.com/

5

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids

https://bb4ck.org/

6

Calgary John Howard Society

https://www.cjhs.ca/reports/

7

Leftovers Foundation

8

Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology

https://www.cawst.org/

9

YMCA Calgary

https://www.ymcacalgary.org/

10

YWCA Calgary

11

Momentum Calgary

https://momentum.org/

12

Awotaan Healing Lodge

https://www.awotaan.org/

13

Calgary Counselling Centre

https://calgarycounselling.com/

14

The Calgary Food Bank

https://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/

15

CUPS Calgary

https://www.cupscalgary.com/about-us

16

Telus Spark Calgary

https://www.sparkscience.ca/

17

Windmill Microlending

https://windmillmicrolending.org/

18

Immigrant Services Calgary

19

Calgary Meals on Wheels

https://www.mealsonwheels.com/

20

Sage Seniors Association

https://www.mysage.ca/

21

Righteous Gelato

https://www.righteousgelato.com/

22

Trico Homes

23

Blu Planet Recycling

https://www.bprecycling.ca/

24

Chandos Construction

https://www.chandos.com/

25

United Farmers of Alberta

https://ufa.com/

26

Servus

http://www.servus.ca/

27

Make a Wish Foundation

28

Local Investing YYC

https://localinvestingyyc.ca/

29

The Mustard Seed

https://theseed.ca/

30

Edmonton’s Food Bank

https://www.edmontonsfoodbank.com/

31

ConnectFirst

https://www.connectfirstcu.com/en

32

Distress Centre Calgary

33

Unison Alberta [Kerby centre]

https://unisonalberta.com/

34

Fresh Start Recovery Centre

35

UFA

https://ufa.com/

36

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta

https://www.habitatsouthernab.ca/

37

Sage Seniors Association

https://www.mysage.ca/

38

Calgary Coop

39

Northern Star Mothers Milk Bank

https://www.northernstarmilkbank.ca/

40

Compassion House Foundation

Organization short list:

1. __________________________________________

2. __________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

STEP 3: Choose the organization from the list above that you/your colleague are most interested in studying. You should provide as much detail as possible to demonstrate your research on this organization.

a)Organization NAME:

b)Organization MISSION (or equivalent statement of purpose[1]):

c)If a registered charity, under which charitable pillar did the organization receive its charitable status? Hint: If a charity, refer to the CRA website and the T3010 for details.

d)LOCATION(S) of the organization’s operations, facilities and activities:

e)When was the organization founded? ___________________

f)Is the organization governed by a Board of Directors (if not, please elaborate)? If yes, what is the composition of the Board, the organization’s website should provide some details. Hint: If a charity, refer to the CRA website and the T3010 for details; for a cooperative or B Corp information should be available in the public domain on the organization’s website, annual report, etc.

g)Briefly describe how the organization works to fulfill its purpose and deliver its mission. What complex problem is it trying to solve/address?

h)Who are the organization’s stakeholders? Whom does your organization serve? If it is a cooperative, what type of cooperative is it?

CONTEXT WORKSHEET

PART B: Organization Analysis (2 pages- Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Discover where your organization is “located” within the social economy, using various descriptors and indicators. Note: You will need to undertake additional research to determine the status and structure of your organization.

STEP 1: Indicate the legal status of your case study organization (check all that apply):

____ No formal legal status

____ Federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act

____ Registered Charity:

_____ Charity

_____ Public Foundation

_____ Private Foundation

____ Society, under the Alberta Societies Act

____ Non-profit Company, under the Alberta Companies Act

____ Cooperative, under the Alberta Cooperatives Act

____ Incorporated Company, under Alberta Business Corporations Act

____ Exists by special Provincial Statute (such as a university charter)

____ Exists by special Federal Statute

____ B Corporation

____ For profit corporation

____ Other (please describe) _______________________________________________________

STEP 2: Regardless of its legal status, it is best described as a (can check more than one):

____ Registered charity

____ Social enterprise

____ Cooperative

____ Political or social advocacy organization

____ For-profit business with a social focus

____ Social movement

____ B Corporation

____ Other (please describe) _______________

STEP 3. Locate the organization on the following model of the social economy, referring to resources posted on Blackboard and discussed in class. What evidence can you provide to support why you placed your organization where you did? Image Source: Quarter, Mook & Armstrong (2009). Understanding the Social Economy. (p. 7). U of T Press.

Mark with an ‘x’ or a dot:

Provide rationale for your choice above:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 4: Locate your organization with an “X” on the business model continuum below. Be sure to include an explanation for your choice.

Provide rationale for your choice above:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 5: Environmental Analysis:

a)Conduct an external environmental analysis for the organization. Complete the PEST Analysis on the table below. Ensure you provide a detailed of at least four trends for each PEST component. First describe the trend in detail, then, explain how it is an opportunity, a threat, or both for your organization. Hint: A reputable source for each trend must be provided & cited.

#

Trend [describe & provide source/citation for each trend]

Opportunity [describe how]

Threat [describe how]

P

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E

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S

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T

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b) To complement your PEST analysis please complete a Porter’s Five Forces Analysis for your chosen organization based on your research [primary and/or secondary]. You should have some insight regarding the organization’s external environment based on your PEST analysis. The objective of Porter’s Five Forces is to assess your organization’s competitive landscape. Include commentary and a critical analysis of each component for your organization. Be sure to indicate for each component whether a high, medium, or low threat exists.

Threats of New Entrants:

Threat Level:

Threat of substitute products, services, programs:

Threat Level:

Bargaining Power of Buyers:

Threat Level:

Bargaining Power of Suppliers:

Threat level:

Intensity of Rivalry of existing competitors:

Threat Level:

Assessment: High, Medium, or Low Threat

Threat of new Entrants

Threat of substitute products, services, programs

Bargaining Power of Buyers

Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Intensity of Rivalry of existing competitors

Threat Level Overall:

c)Although you have not conducted a formal internal analysis of the subject organization, based on your research [primary and/or secondary], your PEST and Porter’s Five Analysis should have some insight regarding the organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Please complete a SWOT analysis and identify/explain at least four of the organization’s most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing it today.

S

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W

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O

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T

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CONTEXT WORKSHEET

PART C: Understanding the Social Context (3-5 pages, typed, double spaced)

Based on your overall analysis, provide an essay-style review of the organization with respect to its social context, addressing the questions below: [please use headings for answers to each question]

1.The illustration below, adapted from a theory on adaptive/resilient ecosystems by Canadian ecologist Buzz Holling, has been used in many contexts, including in the analysis of the life cycle of organizations and in analyzing how to sustain social innovations. Please review the diagram[2] and identify/explain in which of the four phases the case study organization currently resides, and why you believe it is in this phase of its development.

2.Within the context of the adaptive cycle, describe some of the external dynamics identified in your SWOT analysis that may threaten the organization (currently or potentially), or that are exploiting a vulnerability in the organization’s design.

3.What is your organization’s Theory of Change? If one does not exist, create one for your organization.

4.Look at the organization’s financial statements. Keep in mind the following:

a.A registered charity’s T3010 report can be found by searching the CRA website.

i.https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/srch/pub/dsplyBscSrch?request_locale=en

b.A cooperative’s annual report, member or impact report can usually be found on the organization’s website and should provide financial information in addition to issues the organizations is facing and impacts it has had over the past period.

c.A B Corp organizational assessment may be found on either the organization’s own website or in the B Corp Directory. It can provide valuable information regarding the organization’s performance in addition to what can be found on the organization website.

i.https://bcorpdirectory.ca/

d.Keep in mind that private organizations do not have a duty to provide public reporting, contact your instructor if this is true for your organization.

5.As you will recall from your class notes and lectures, Porter’s Five Forces Model was originally intended as a tool,

“that profit maximizing corporate leaders should use as they should constantly be seeking ways to make their markets less competitive (decreasing the number of firms, increasing their size, forming cartels), creating legal or political barriers to entry, making substitution hard, making your suppliers dependent, and locking your customers into your product or service.”

You have now applied the model to your organization and its operations; however, the framework does not consider, ethics, sustainability, an organization’s reputation, nor a triple bottom line. What are your thoughts/observations/insights about applying this model to your organization?

6.Based on your analyses, if you were to imagine what this organization should or could be doing in ten years’ time, what might that look like?

a.How might you revise the vision of your organization based on your view of its future and your overall analysis of the organization?

b.And, most importantly, based on your research/analysis, what is one suggested innovation you would propose to the organization’s Board of Directors that they should pursue within the next ten years? Please provide evidence and research to support your answer.

Note:Please ensure you include a reference page for any/all sources used. Personal communications or interviews referred to, should also be cited using APA 7th edition formatting convention. Please note that late submissions will be penalized 10% per day late.

[1] If it is a diffuse movement you are analyzing, you may need to rely on third-party s of its purpose.

[2] The “exploitation” phase is sometimes referred to as the “birth” phase, “conservation” as “maturity”, “release” as “creative destruction” and “re-organization” as “renewal”. For a more in-depth analysis of how adaptive cycles can be applied to social innovation within complex systems, see this paper by Frances Westley and Nino Antadze (2009): http://sig.uwaterloo.ca/sites/default/files/documents/MAKING_A_DIFFERENCE_SiG_Format.pdf