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Civil Society and The Management Challenges of NGOs or Not-For-Profit Organizations

This document outlines the management challenges faced by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as part of the civil society sector. It begins by defining civil society as the framework for understanding NGOs. NGOs make up the strategic constituents of civil society but are not the entirety of civil society. The document then discusses how NGO management is different from public and private sector management, as NGOs are actually conglomerates of multiple organizations and components, requiring complicated management systems. Finally, it explains that while management theories from other sectors may not fully apply to NGOs, certain ideas can still provide guidance to policymakers and managers in the nonprofit sector.

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Amjad Nazeer
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113 views2 pages

Civil Society and The Management Challenges of NGOs or Not-For-Profit Organizations

This document outlines the management challenges faced by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as part of the civil society sector. It begins by defining civil society as the framework for understanding NGOs. NGOs make up the strategic constituents of civil society but are not the entirety of civil society. The document then discusses how NGO management is different from public and private sector management, as NGOs are actually conglomerates of multiple organizations and components, requiring complicated management systems. Finally, it explains that while management theories from other sectors may not fully apply to NGOs, certain ideas can still provide guidance to policymakers and managers in the nonprofit sector.

Uploaded by

Amjad Nazeer
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AN OUTLINE OF CIVIL

SOCEITY AND MANGEMENT


CHALLENGES OF NGOs

Amjad Nazeer
March 2010
AN OUTLINE OF CIVIL SOCEITY AND

MANGEMENT CHALLENGES OF NGOs OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract:

While stepping into its middle ages the nonprofit-sector is struggling with and discovering its
own management system as do the experts and academicians. The questions are, can it
learn from public and private sector management models? If yes! How far? If not! What is
the way out then? What type of management is already in place, if any? Nevertheless,
delving into the management debate is difficult without having an idea of civil society first, of
which nonprofits are the strategic constituent. That is why the article will begin drawing an
outline of civil society. It will then proceed to the concept of, but mainly to the management
approach and challenges of the non-profits. Management dilemma and complications that
contemporary not-for-profit sector faces with, is the main theme of this article. Along with
political, economic and ethical inevitabilities, internal and external tensions of the sector are
given a due consideration. Quandaries caused by the sources of revenue, autonomy and the
complex relation with state and market are also seen through. A co-relation between the
governing board, accountability and performance-measurement is also explained.

Describing the inapplicability of the bureaucratic and the scientific management theory, the
article proceeds to the management approaches of the not-for-profits, though heavily relying
upon H.K. Anheier’s understanding and analysis of the not-for-profit management. Although
it is difficult to speak about adequacy and inadequacy of a particular approach but certain
ideas and insights are shared for the guidance of policy makers and managers in the sector.
Precisely, it is intended to demonstrate that not-for-profits’ management is widely different from
both public and private sector. In reality, it is far more complicated and multifarious than
is usually perceived to be. It will demonstrate that a nonprofit-organization is actually a
conglomerate of more than one organizations or a complex array of multiple components,
hence calling forth a complicated management system. The methodology used here is
descriptive and analytical rather than prescriptive.

Introduction:

It is weird to speak about management without knowing the kind of organizations subject to
our consideration. Nonprofits are civil society organizations but not civil society in exclusion.
Systematic study of civil society is no more than two-and-half decades old. Therefore,
theories of its nature, rai-son-de-tre and impact on state and society are quite novice. The
phenomenon, however, is gradually taking shape and freeing itself from preordained
conventional economic and welfare approaches. The growth of a sustained and vibrant civil
society cannot be attributed to a single political, cultural or economic factor or to a historical
era. It is the outcome of decades' long process even centuries (Anheier 2005, 35). Civil
society, neither as public sphere nor as part of a society, rather as a kind of society
(Edwards 2004, 10-40) is the framework of present analysis.

Understanding Civil Society:

While endeavouring for a better understanding, a lot has been said and written about civil
society groups and organizations. One of the major difficulties is caused by the mind
boggling variety of the organizations we find under the rubric of civil society. They are as

Amjad Nazeer Management Challenges of NGOs


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