Discussion 7 - The influence of your organization on its external environment
Topic to be discussed from Monday April 12 to Friday July 23, 2010
Introduction to topic:
One of the goal of organizational assessment is to see the extent to which an organization impacts on its external environment. Indeed, the external environment also influence the structure and the management of an organization. Yet, the Reflect & Learn team is curious to discover how the organizations themselves are influencing their external environment.
Topic Question:
How does your organization influence the external environment within which it operates?
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Comments
Just as the Organization as a living entity is affected by the environment around it, so it also affects its environment.
Organizations mainly affect their environments through the services that they offer directly and indirectly.
The Organization I belong to, being a faith based organization is involved in many community services which include the following; Health facilities and services, legal support to Women and Children, empowerment to women, the disabled and disadvantaged groups of people.
Through all these areas, the communities are affected positively in the sense that their needs and requirements are met and this has promoted the well being of the people. The case in point is the example of the Church's contribution in the area of health services in Zambia which is almost 40% of the total health services provided to the population.
Education is another critical area where the Church has played a great role. In fact I can safely state that most of the best schools in the sense of everyone wanting to take their children to them are ones that belong to the Church.
The work culture, discipline, Committment displayed by such Institutions always attract a lot of people to them. A lot of people have therefore a lot of trust and confidence in Church run institutions in this case.
The Church is also known for the advocacy role that it plays as it makes its voice heard on behalf of the many people that are not able to be heard. This has made a lot of people to run to such institutions for help.
Many hospices, Children's homes, physically and mentally challenged people are taken care of by the Church. Everyone in the communities where we are are aware of such services.
There has also been a lot of collaboration with the government institutions in many of these services thereby creating partnerships.
Furthermore, with all its institutions, the Church has provided massive employment thereby constributing to the welfare, livelihood and economy of the nation.
This has on one hand given support to the government of the day as it has supplimented to the welfare of the masses.
I am also aware that organizations can also impact negatively on its environment depending on the kind of services offered.
Organizations no matter working on samll or large scale do have positive or nagative impact on the environment depending on thier initiaves and vision of thier organizational leadership. But the sustianble development organizations have positive impact on the surroungding environment.