Social Enterprise Initiative

Resources

Nonprofit Strategy, Management, and Performance

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MBA Courses

Entrepreneurship in Education Reform (Second Year, Winter Term)
Lecturer Stacey Childress
This course is for students who are interested in creating, leading, or supporting education enterprises for driving higher levels of academic achievement for all K-12 students in the United States. Two central questions run through the course: (1) Is there a link between effective leadership and management practices and higher educational outcomes, and (2) Will the introduction of market principles force change on the system and lead to higher performance? Students examine the complexities of the existing education system, the strategies of entrepreneurial organizations to address root causes of the performance problems in urban education, and the entrepreneurial behavior of leaders and managers trying to affect systemic change in both traditional and new types of public schools.

Leading And Governing High Performing Nonprofit Organizations (Second Year, Fall and Winter Term)
Professor Allen Grossman; Associate Professor Alnoor Ebrahim
This course will offer an in-depth exploration of how to create, build and sustain high performing nonprofit organizations. Many for-profit leadership and management skills can be successfully adapted to nonprofit organizations; however, because the differences between the sectors are often greater than their similarities, the process can be daunting. Moreover, many for-profit concepts and frameworks do not transfer; therefore, new approaches must be developed for the complex nonprofit operating environment. LGHNO will identify, analyze and integrate the concepts and frameworks that nonprofit organizations need for outstanding performance.

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Executive Education Programs

Governing for Nonprofit Excellence (GNE) is intended for chairs of nonprofit boards and other nonprofit board members occupying significant board leadership roles. This three-day program explores issues of critical concern to board leaders, including strategic planning; managing mission transitions and organizational transformations; achieving financial sustainability; structuring and managing alliances; attaining effective board-CEO relationships; creating a productive board structure; and preserving trust and accountability. Participants also benefit from the opportunity to explore a current challenge facing their organization during peer consultation sessions.

Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations (PMNO) is a three-day program designed to help nonprofit leaders use performance measurement to enhance their organizations’ ability to achieve their missions. Specifically, the program encourages participants to look at how the strategic use of organizational performance measurement can improve key areas of management concern such as resource allocation, internal processes, and external accountability. Participants address various organizational performance measurement challenges that managers face, and explore best practices reflecting the awareness that different types of performance problems require different approaches. PMNO is a collaboration between the Social Enterprise Initiative and Harvard’s Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations.

Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) is an intensive six-day program designed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit CEOs and executive directors to lead their organizations effectively.  SPNM provides a conceptual approach to shape the direction, mission, policies, and major programs of nonprofit organizations. Participants explore strategic concepts in mission focus, market sensitivity, organizational structure, and performance management and control. Participants also take part in the Strategy Workshop, a small-group consultative session in which they address critical challenges facing their organizations.

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