Background Note | HBS Case Collection | 2010 (Revised from original 2008 version)

Note on the Nonprofit Coherence Framework

by Allen S. Grossman and Stacey M. Childress

Abstract

This note presents the Nonprofit Coherence Framework. It helps nonprofit leaders identify the key elements that support an organizational strategy focused on attaining high performance, bring those elements into a coherent relationship with the strategy and each other, and help guide the actions of people throughout an organization in the pursuit of high levels of individual and organizational achievement. This note proposes that to attain high performance, a nonprofit organization must have all of its organizational elements-culture, structure, systems, resources, stakeholders, and the operating environment-working together to drive strategy.

Keywords: Management Practices and Processes; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Performance Improvement; Nonprofit Organizations; Corporate Strategy;

Citation:

Grossman, Allen S., and Stacey M. Childress. "Note on the Nonprofit Coherence Framework." Harvard Business School Background Note 309-035, October 2010. (Revised from original August 2008 version.)