The Networked Nonprofit by Beth Kanter & Fine Allison & Zuckerberg Randi

Author:Beth Kanter & Fine, Allison & Zuckerberg, Randi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2010-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

SIMPLIFYING YOUR ORGANIZATION

It is essential that nonprofit organizations focus on developing the simplest ideas, structures, and processes possible. In The Power of Less, Leo Babauta defines simplicity as a two-step process: identify the essential elements of what you do, and then eliminate the rest. We offer a modification of this adage to fit the particular needs of social change organizations: Do what you do best and network the rest.9

Eugene Eric Kim, an expert in online collaboration, says simplicity is the key to scaling social change efforts. “Think about ants,” he says. “They do two things really well: haul things and leave trails. This is the key to working in a networked way . . . focusing on one or two things that are done really well. That’s the only way to scale.”10

Ward Cunningham, the celebrated computer programmer and creator of the wiki tool, said, “Simplicity is the shortest path to a solution. You are always taught to do as much as you can. Always put checks in. Always look for exceptions. Always handle the most general case. Always give the user the best advice. Always print a meaningful error message. Always this. Always that. You have so many things in the background that you’ re supposed to do, there’s no room left to think. I say, forget all that and ask yourself, “What’s the simplest thing that could possibly work?”11

So, where and how can organizations begin to become simpler? Here are a few suggestions:

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