Executives from non-profits stressed technology as a force to break through the insularity that isolates leaders and frustrates staffers in the field. Timothy Shriver, President and CEO of Special Olympics International, said knowledge management tools let its chapters in 150 countries share best practices as they work with 1.1 million mentally disabled athletes. In addition, the central staff can now monitor participation and results in chapters.
Corporate leaders can learn from their counterparts in the non-profit sector.
Leaders in both the profit or nonprofit sectors are wrestling with ways to get top performance from their organizations. He said that when organizations fail to meet their aspiration, the problem is more often found in the organizational model that affects individual decisions. The design's aspects include roles and responsibilities, decision rights, incentives, organizational boundaries, information that is relevant for decision making, and clear rules for conflict resolution. Center works with clients to develop business models, design organizations that are strategically aligned and adaptable, and build leadership capacity throughout the organization. These challenges face organizations at all levels, including the corporate center, business units, alliance partners, and networks of suppliers and customers.