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Take Inventory of Your Organization
Social purpose businesses succeed when there is a sound opportunity and an entrepreneurial management team to carry out the task of launching a business. Using the Organizational Assessment Survey, you will evaluate what your organization already possesses to help you develop the business idea, and what people are in place to lead the effort. The Organizational Assessment includes:
- Articulation of the organization's values and strengths.
- Assessment of the financial, staff, and physical (equipment, property, etc.) resources that are needed and available for the business planning process and launch.
- Identification of advocates, stakeholders and partners that will provide assistance for the planning and launch of the business.
- Recognition of the potential challenges and difficulties with planning and launching the business.
- Definition of roles and responsibilities among current and potential staff for the business.
Organizational Commitment Checklist
Review your Organizational Assessment Survey: Do you have the following?
- Dedicated resources to support the business planning process.
- A strategic plan that includes the development of a social purpose business as a near-term strategy
- A board resolution that supports the development of a social purpose business.
- A clear vision of the social and financial goals of the business.
- A set of core values that can drive the development of the social purpose business.
- A general understanding of the risk factors involved in starting a social purpose business.
- Mitigation strategies to address resistance to change among staff, clients and stakeholders.
Entrepreneurship Team Checklist
- Project champion to lead the business planning process.
- Management team that understands the risks and is realistic about possible results of the social purpose business.
- Board of Directors that supports the development of the social purpose business.
- Board of Directors and staff who understand that the desired outcome for a social purpose business is a mix of social and financial returns.
The Organizational Assessment Survey is meant to help you understand what you have and what you might need. Making the decision to launch a social purpose business is a significant one and requires a sound business idea and organizational readiness. Based on what you've learned thus far, are you ready to begin the business planning process?
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