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Jacqueline Stavros Dissertation.pdf (20.72 MB)

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Capacity Building: An Appreciative Approach

Stavros, Jacqueline M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1560435084090361

Abstract Details

1998, Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management.
The term "capacity building" has caught on quickly within the nonprofit sector, specifically with Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs). In fact, many funding organizations, agencies and foundations are now requesting that their partners engage in capacity building activities. How then, do we determine which organizations have the capacity to adhere to their mission statements and to deliver their services in a sustained fashion? This is an important question for two reasons. First, it asks us to identify the factors which lead to capacity, and second, it suggests that capacity building is a continuous process. This study proposes a relational process of building an organization's future. It supports a greater appreciation and awareness of the importance of building multi-organizational and global capacities. The relational capacity building framework introduces definitions, insights and guidelines that help the organization create capacity at different levels as well as define core capabilities. This framework allows organizations to see where they are today and establish a vision for tomorrow. It helps them to clearly understand their directions, views, values and capabilities to create a learning environment for capacity building at the same time they are actively involved in creating their future. In so doing, it offers both utility and value for NGOs, donor organizations, governmental agencies, researchers and policy makers. While predominately donor driven, capacity building cannot be understood by only considering a Northern NGO (NNGO) or donor's perspective. The issue is driven by the interdependency between NNGOs and Southern NGOs (SNGOs). This study will consider both perspectives and was created from an in-depth analysis of four NNGOs, and data from a thorough literature review and meta-ethnography of six SNGOs. The Global Excellence in Management Initiative (GEM) organization worked with the researcher in the proposal stage to help identify the key research questions and other primary and secondary sources of information. GEM is a university-based program of learning and education that works in partnership with U.S. Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and international NGOs (INGOs) to conduct capacity building programs. The study answers specific questions from multiple perspectives: What is capacity? What is capacity building? What is organizational capacity, multi-organizational capacity and global capacity? What are the core capabilities that allow for capacity at each level? The nature of the design was a multi-method qualitative study, combining a formal synthesis of selected published studies with original field investigation. The field study used an organizational development process known as appreciative inquiry in the design of the interview protocols, collection of data and preparation and analysis of cases. Appreciative inquiry is a method which attempts to discover "the best of what is" in any organizational/human system. Over 100 interviews were completed with thirty-two participants -- scholars, policy makers and practitioners in the field, primarily from Christian Relief World Resource Committee (CRWRC), the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), Counterpart International and Pact -- to discover and understand the ways in which these organizations and their partners build capacity. These same research questions were used in a meta-ethnography (interpretive synthesis) of six published studies involving SNGOs. It is important to note that this project was not intended as a purely theoretical work Instead, it is the intention of the researcher to offer a contribution which is both practical and actionable. The study concludes with the development of the framework and a discussion of capacity building as a relational process for organizing and creating an organization's future. ii
David L. Cooperrider, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Paul F. Salipante, Ph.D (Advisor)
Organizational Behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stavros, J. M. (1998). Capacity Building: An Appreciative Approach [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1560435084090361

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stavros, Jacqueline. Capacity Building: An Appreciative Approach. 1998. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1560435084090361.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stavros, Jacqueline. "Capacity Building: An Appreciative Approach." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1998. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1560435084090361

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

casedm1560435084090361
202
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