Organizational Development

Nonprofit organizations like businesses frequently grow their budgets and programs before developing systems and structures to work for the new stage of development. Organizational development will usually begin with an assessment. Assistance can then be provided in either a training mode (in which the skills and knowledge of managers are developed) or a consulting mode (in which systems are developed and applied) or a hybrid approach.

The Oertel Group's organizational develpment work is largely based the Institute for Organizational Health which was designed by the firm's primary consultants. The Institute for Organizational Health is extensive training and technical assistance program which was originally designed for domestic violence organizations and sponsored by the Department of Health Services. The basic model can be adapted to meet the specific needs of the managers of your organization. The program is most effective when all members of a management team participate. The training sessions focus on building the knowledge and skills of your management teams. The sessions will both provide content and facilitate your management team applying the concepts to your organization. Each participant receives an extensive curriculum binder.

The assessment process examines 44 different measures organized around:

• Planning (mission, vision, community assessment, organizational culture and values, program evaluation, marketing, collaboration, coalition building and services to diverse populations)
• Structure (job descriptions, core competencies, staff development, accountability across board, staff and volunteers) 
• Skills (communication, meeting management, ethical decision-making, team building, conflict resolution, time mastery, leadership, management, supervision) 
• Systems (human resources, financial, legal, risk management, information technology, fundraising, administrative systems, facility management, insurance)