059. Potential and peril when NGOs aspire to use a network structure: Doris Bäsler, formerly @ Oxfam

Summary

What are the strengths of a confederated nonprofit organizational structure and what are its inherent weaknesses and limitations?

What is a ‘diversified network’ type of organizational structure?

To what extent does having a confederated organizational structure, as well as the aspiration to be a diversified network, Impact the nature, legitimacy, adaptability, and quality of decision-making?

In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Doris Bäsler, formerly Oxfam, on the potential and peril when NGOs aspire to use a network structure

Doris’ Bio:

• Right now, Doris is resting, learning, and volunteering in Berlin, Germany
• Former Director for Strategy & Feminist Futures and Strategy & Confederation Development at Oxfam International
• Former Director for Organisational Development services at Transparency International, as well as head of capacity services
• Worked at Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
• Former Head of office as well as other roles at the country level for the International Committee for the Red Cross

 

We discuss: 

• The path by which Oxfam chose a confederated organizational structure
• The differences between federated, confederated and corporate unitary structures, and the strengths as well as challenges of confederated structures – and how it is all about places on a spectrum
• How Oxfam got stuck for a while in discussing the choice of a federated versus confederated model – and how the aspiration of a ‘diversified network’ came up
• A diversified network implies that there is diversification of voice: not just global South members, but also non-Christian affiliates, greater recognition of the primacy of Africa within Oxfam, diversification of affiliate business models, etc
• How Oxfam tried to prevent the creation of a lot of “mini me’s”
• The implications for internal systems of decision making, valuing of different forms of knowledge, assets etc
• Quality Decision making can be challenging in a diversified network like Oxfam, but if the values and the ‘why’ and purpose are clear, this helps

 

Quotes: 

“Complexity of organizational structure is not inherently negative, if you understand it”

“Being a diversified network is an imperative, not a nice to have in a world within which power is clearly shifting”

Resources:

Doris’s LinkedIn profile

Doris’ Email

Related Blogpost

 

Youtube video of this podcast

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