Improving the Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness of Not-for-Profits

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

As not-for-profits must increasingly achieve greater results with less resources, they are continually seeking ways to use such scarce resources with more economy, with greater efficiency of processes and people within their organizations, and with increased effectiveness of results in order to further their missions. Whether used alone or together with other tools such as benchmarking, activity-based management, and flexible budgeting, the operational review is the tool best used to perform an evaluation of these crucial three e's-economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. This book shows not-for-profit managers why conducting an operational review can be beneficial, explains the tools and personnel needed to conduct the review, and shows in detail how to conduct a review of operations in each area. It includes case study materials for a social service agency, a museum operation, an arts organization, a community service agency, and a college business office. Here is accessible, comprehensive coverage of:
* How to approach an operational review, judge its results, and make recommendations to management
* How to position your not-for-profit organization more effectively in the competitive world of funding, personnel, resources, and service results
* How to identify and implement best practices within funding and operational constraints in all areas of the not-for-profit's operations in an organized program of continuing improvements


. . . and much more, including extensive exhibits, forms, working tools, checklists, and examples for conducting an operational review throughout all functions of a not-for-profit organization. Executive directors, outside auditors, CPAs, manage-ment consultants, boards, fund-raising executives, and all others involved in the not-for-profit's operations will learn to get the most for their mission from this indispensable book. Preface.

Introduction to Operational Reviews.

The Planning Phase.

Work Program Phase.

The Field Work Phase.

Development of Review Findings.

Reporting Phase.

Index. ROB REIDER, CPA, MBA, PhD, is the President and founder of Reider Associates, a management and organizational consulting firm located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to his extensive consulting experience, Reider is the author of nine self-study courses marketed nationally and is a sought-after discussion leader for over twenty different seminars conducted throughout the country. He has received the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader of the Year Award and is the author of The Complete Guide to Operational Auditing, Operational Review: Maximum Results at Efficient Costs, and Benchmarking Strategies: A Tool for Profit Improvement, all from Wiley. In today’s multifaceted and multi-disciplined economic environment, not-for-profit organization management has placed an increased emphasis on maximizing results–the fulfillment of mission–with fewer resources. This is best accomplished through the review and evaluation of the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the not-for-profit’s operations–the three e’s of an operational review. The operational review is the tool used to perform such an evaluation, either alone or together with other evaluation tools such as benchmarking, activity-based management, flexible budgeting, and so on.

This book presents the basic prin-ciples of planning and conducting such an operational review for not-for-profit’s, as well as the fundamentals the reviewer must be aware of in order to understand operational review concerns within a not-for-profit environment. Improving the Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness of Not-for-Profits makes the case for conducting an operational review and provides the tools and techniques to effectively conduct the review. Here is a thorough examination of the various functional areas of a not-for-profit, such as management, planning, fund-raising, technology, human resources, and guidance on how to conduct the review in each area, using the tools provided. Checklists and worksheets are provided throughout to ensure effective implementation.

Accessible, easy-to-follow, and understand, this expert book provides not-for-profits with the best practices and procedures available today, for conducting the operational review, tailored for their special resource needs and outcome measures.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

As not-for-profits must increasingly achieve greater results with less resources, they are continually seeking ways to use such scarce resources with more economy, with greater efficiency of processes and people within their organizations, and with increased effectiveness of results in order to further their missions. Whether used alone or together with other tools such as benchmarking, activity-based management, and flexible budgeting, the operational review is the tool best used to perform an evaluation of these crucial three e’s–economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. This book shows not-for-profit managers why conducting an operational review can be beneficial, explains the tools and personnel needed to conduct the review, and shows in detail how to conduct a review of operations in each area. It includes case study materials for a social service agency, a museum operation, an arts organization, a community service agency, and a college business office. Here is accessible, comprehensive coverage of:

• How to approach an operational review, judge its results, and make recommendations to management
• How to position your not-for-profit organization more effectively in the competitive world of funding, personnel, resources, and service results
• How to identify and implement best practices within funding and operational constraints in all areas of the not-for-profit’s operations in an organized program of continuing improvements

. . . and much more, including extensive exhibits, forms, working tools, checklists, and examples for conducting an operational review throughout all functions of a not-for-profit organization. Executive directors, outside auditors, CPAs, manage-ment consultants, boards, fund-raising executives, and all others involved in the not-for-profit’s operations will learn to get the most for their mission from this indispensable book.