Ep 1 - Chasing Innovation: can we do better as NGOs? In conversation with Christian Meyer, MzN Int.

Tosca is in conversation with Christian Meyer zu Natrup, Managing Director of MzN International, in the first episode of 3 part podcast series. Other 2 episodes will cover ‘Chasing funding’ and ‘Chasing impact’.

Summary

Are INGOs inherently inefficient, slow and lack innovation to the point that they will go, or ought to go, extinct?

And if not, what should leaders do to transform their organisations into solution providers at a time when the world faces unprecedented upheaval, a climate crisis, pandemics and a myriad of other challenges?


In the very first episode, I discuss with Chris if non-profits at risk of being incapable of solving problems and therefore at risk of becoming obsolete.



Christian’s Bio

Managing Director of MzN International
Disaster relief and assessment coordinator at European Union (2006 – 2013)
Senior Executive at EY


We discussed:

NGO, like all bureaucracies, can be shaped - and intentionally so.

Unfortunately, some NGOs start out with good intentions but end up being shaped by the rules and confinement of government grant guidelines, rendering them inflexible while chasing compliance legislation

They get used to a moderate, comfortable existence, rather than solving a problem. This is acceptable if their aim is a continuous existence in a relatively stable environment. Not helpful if they want to solve problems in a fluid context. For that, they need to be agile.

Trade offs between large size and ability to offer scale and work across many sites, multi-sector etc. vs. offering sharply delineated competencies

Leadership mindsets (overconfidence of ability to project; cognitive biases; staying focused on desirability and viability, not getting bogged down in feasibility/ compliance; falling in love with solution too early, not with problem)

Lack of innovation funds (obstacles in using cash reserves, UR etc.)

Balance needed between creativity and discipline

Overreliance on in-house production of solutions vs. buying off the shelf

Insufficiently flat organizations

Innovations not aligned with strategy or strategic priorities

Process oriented!


Resources:

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meyerzunatrup/

Website
https://mzninternational.com

Twitter
https://twitter.com/ChristianMzN

Next episodes alert:

Episode 2: Chasing funding - will it ever end?

Episode 3: Chasing impact - ever more desperate? And are we actually interested in measuring and knowing our impact?



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Тэги:

#innovation #chasing_innovation #non_profit #charity #NGO #civil_sector #civil_sector_challenges #five_oaks_consulting #virtual_team_leadership #better_NGOs #MZN_international #MZN #Christian_Meyer #Tosca

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