Ability To Anticipate And Manage Change & Development



Volunteer Development Agency Small LogoAbility To Anticipate And Manage Change & Development

Voluntary organisations encounter a series of milestones as they grow and develop. Your management committee can learn how to anticipate and manage these changes from other organisations. This article provides information on the key milestones and the importance of planning.


Voluntary organisations encounter many milestones including:-

  • Establishing themselves as a formal entity.
  • Employing staff for the first time.
  • Planning future activities.
  • Changes in their funding.
  • Making changes in their governance or organisational structure.
  • Acquiring or repairing property.
  • Changing direction or winding up.
Planning is central to an organisation’s governance and, to inform the planning process, management committee’s should make use of the experience and lessons learned by other organisations.

These milestones are identifiable because new and developing charities regularly meet the same events as those before them with the benefit of learning from the experience of others. Experience is passed on through community support agencies and regional bodies. It is essential that the Management Committee develop a long-term perspective and an awareness of the context within which the organisation is operating in order to manage effectively.

It is better to seek support and advice when your organisation is preparing for a transitional period than waiting until you hit it.

It is tempting to adopt a short-term solution but often the management committee needs to adapt their organisational structure to ensure that the organisation has the capacity to continue to function efficiently and effectively in a new situation.

The Management Committee needs to ensure that the governance structure and capacity of the organisation of the organisation to keep pace and remain appropriate to meet its purpose efficiently and effectively. This may include considering whether to take on staff and changing the organisation’s way of operating to accommodate more work and greater complexity. It may also involve re-evaluating the balance of skills on the management committee and among your staff and volunteers to cope with increased administration of income and activity.


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