Preparation for Nonprofit Micro-eMBA(SM) Program

Sections of this topic

    Free Management Library’s
    Online Nonprofit Organization Development Program Module #1:

    Preparation for Nonprofit Micro-eMBA(SM)
    Program

    (includes recommendations to large amount of free, online
    resources)

    © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting,
    LLC
    .

    (This module is in the nonprofit organization development program.
    However, this module can also be used by anyone to improve their
    self-directed study habits and/or become aware of free, online
    information for nonprofit organizations.)

    Also consider
    Related Library Topics

    INTRODUCTION

    This module helps you get ready for the program by providing
    guidelines to get the most out of the program, along with suggesting
    numerous free, online resources of which you might take advantage.

    As with any learning module in this program, you’ll get the
    most if you read all materials, consider each question for discussion
    and reflection, discuss information and materials with others,
    complete suggested activities and apply assessments as appropriate.
    You should also regularly conduct action planning to record and
    monitor important actions (for yourself or your business organization)
    identified during the program, including what needs to be done,
    who needs to do it, by when and current status on the completion
    of the tasks.

    Lastly, congratulations, on your own initiative and commitment
    to your learning!

    Also consider
    Related
    Library Topics


    OUTCOMES

    Learners who complete this module will achieve the following
    outcomes:

    1. Guidelines for You to Get the Most from this Program
    2. Tips to Improve Your Reading and Studying Skills
    3. Extensive Free, Online Resources for You
    4. Designing Your Best Approach to the Program

    MATERIALS FOR REVIEW

    • The following materials will help you address each of
      the topics and learning activities in this module.
    • Read the following materials according to directions in
      their titles, eg, “read paragraphs till you come to next title”)

    Program
    Design and Format of Learning Modules (read paragraphs till come
    to next title)

    Basics
    for Learners to Get Most from Training and Development (read paragraphs
    on page)

    Tips
    to Improve Reading Skills (read articles in “Various Perspectives”)

    Tips
    to Study More Effectively (read tips both for studying and concentrating)

    General
    Resources (be aware of the types of resources listed under that
    category on the right sidebar)


    SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

    • Learners are strongly encouraged to discuss the following
      questions with peers, board members, management and employees,
      as appropriate.
    • The following suggestions and activities are based on
      the readings from the above “Materials for Review”.

    1. You’ll learn the most — and develop needed systems for
    your organization — by a) actually applying information and materials
    from this program and b) sharing feedback with others about these
    experiences. List at least two groups of people (peers, board
    members, management, employees, etc.) with whom you will share
    ongoing feedback during this program.

    2. What do you do to deal with stress in your private and work
    life? This question is critical to the success of this program,
    and particularly to the success of your organization! List at
    least three support systems (friends, to-do lists, etc.) you will
    use to support you as you a) start your new organization and b)
    apply information and materials from the program? (You might find
    useful ideas in some of the articles in Stress Management.)

    3. From reading the above-listed Materials for Review, list
    at least two useful tips for you to read more effectively? Study
    more effectively?

    4. Are there any other key questions that you should reflect
    on and / or discuss with others to ensure the program remains
    meaningful to you?


    SUGGESTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES

    • Learners are strongly encouraged to complete the following
      activities, and share and discuss results with peers, board members,
      management and employees, as appropriate.
    • As you proceed through the following activities, be sure
      to note any incomplete actions in the Action Item Planning List. (At that Web
      address, a box might open, asking you which software application
      to open the document.)

    1. Write down a schedule of when you plan to study information
    and materials in the program. Share the schedule with several
    people who can help you stay on track with your schedule, for
    example, peers, fellow board members, management, employees, consultants,
    friends, family, etc. Give them permission to pose supportive
    challenges to you to help you stay on track.

    2. Write and distribute a one-page memo to whomever you plan
    to share feedback with (peers, board members, management and employees,
    etc.) indicating your plans to complete the program and that you
    plan to discuss information and materials with them (for example,
    in upcoming board meetings, staff meetings, etc). Suggest the
    program to them, as well.

    3. Schedule regular meeting times (for example, in meetings
    with peers, board members, management, employees, etc.) to discuss
    information and materials from this program. Share the schedule
    with others.

    4. Recruit fellow learners to go through the program with you.
    You could, for example:
    a.) Contact local service providers to get suggestions for other
    learners — or ask them if they would sponsor the program.
    b.) Call several peers, for example, board members, chief executives,
    managers, consultants, instructors, etc., and pose the program
    to them.

    5. If you have questions, consider posing them in the national,
    free, online discussion group hr.com, which is attended
    by many human resource and organization development experts.

    6. Are there other activities that would be more suitable for
    your needs and nature? Commit to undertaking these activities
    — by undertaking, we mean other than thinking about or talking
    about, but starting and completing the activities. Write down
    your ideas and share them with whomever is going to support you
    as you progress through the program.

    7. Lastly, spend an hour over the coming week in which you
    scan around inside the Free Management Library. There are a massive
    amount of links in the Library, including about 675 topics. Get
    a feel for how they are arranged.

    8. OPTIONAL: The following three links are to a large amount
    of free, online resources in regard to personal development, productivity
    and wellness. If you have the time, you might glance around inside
    the topics. If you find something that might benefit you, consider
    identifying suitable actions to take. Write down these planned
    actions and share them with others who can support you as you
    take the actions.
    Personal
    Development

    Personal
    Productivity

    Personal
    Wellness


    OPTIONAL SELF-ASSESSMENTS

    • OPTIONAL: The following self-assessments can help you
      identify areas where you’d like further self-development.

    Behavioral Styles — Take a look at the following
    matrix of behavioral styles. See where you fit in. How might that
    affect how you proceed through the eMBA?

    Are You Ready for Change? — Are you
    really ready for change? For implementing this eMBA?

    Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
    Based on the SWOT analysis, what did you learn about yourself?
    Use your strengths to take advantage of opportunities, to strengthen
    weaknesses and ward off threats. Any strategies that you should
    implement?

    Stress Self-Evaluation
    To determine how effectively you are using your time, respond
    to these questions honestly

    (More self-assessments if you are interested.)


    TRACKING OPEN ACTION ITEMS

    1. One of the first indicators that an organization or a person
    is struggling is that open action items are not tracked and reviewed.
    (Open action items are required actions that have not yet been
    completed.) Instead, people only see and react to the latest “fires”
    in their workplaces or their lives. Whether open action items
    are critical to address now or not, they should not entirely be
    forgotten. Therefore, update and regularly review a list of open
    action items (identified while proceeding through this program)
    that includes listing each open action item, who is responsible
    to complete it, when it should be completed and any associated
    comments. When updating the list, consider action items as identified
    during discussions, learning activities and assessments in this
    module. Share and regularly review this action item list with
    the appropriate peers, board, management and employees in your
    organization. You can use the following Action Item Planning List. (At that Web address,
    a box might open, asking you which software application to open
    the document.)

    2. If you have questions, consider posing them in the national,
    free, online discussion group hr.com, which is attended
    by many human resource and organization development experts.


    (Learners in the nonprofit organization development program
    can return to the nonprofit organization development program.)


    For the Category of Personal Development:

    To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may
    want to review some related topics, available from the link below.
    Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.

    Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been
    selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.

    Related Library Topics

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