Professional Documents
Culture Documents
62
62
Comments by Others
Ayokunle Fagbemi explained that ordinarily, staff retreats are times for
sober reflection and also important for harmonizing organizational
1
perspectives (appreciative enquiry), and are best done when all cadre
of the organization are present.
Activity Objective(s)
Until one takes ownership of the process where one is, it is a challenge.
It is only when the individual accepts that there is change that it can
occur. It is also important to access ones achievements at the
individual and organizational, etc. levels, that should include the
positive personal and organizational inventories. Therefore, he focused
on the role of participants as individual catalysts in the scheme of
affecting the required shift for efficiency and organisational
development.
The 4 D Cycle
2
Constructionist principle words create worlds The languages
we use shape our realities, for example, decrees or commands of
military dictators;
All objectives or institutions are not perceived the same by
everyone, there are always differences in perception. For
example, to a hammer everything is a nail;
Inquiry cannot create change without asking questions;
Realities are created in a moment and there are multiple
realities, after which we need to clearly appreciate the poetic
principle;
Poetic principle we can choose what we study. We see
differently but the same things;
Anticipation principle - says that imagination, inspiration, action
and what we focus on (the pictures we see) become our reality,
for example, in past years in Nigeria our focus have influenced
where we are now;
Positive questions lead to positive change and positive change
brings out the best in people. In that way you are assisting them
in creating possibilities for themselves as well as creating an
exciting work environment that boosts their moral positive re-
enforcement. Asking positive questions when one appreciates
the other person would lead to a positive reaction.
Finally, positive principles create possibilities.
Personal Empowerment
Jobs are not just about the organizations but about you and me. It is
important that you must not be the weakest link in an organization,
because we work in the organization but most essentially, we work for
the organization, therefore, we must be the organization personified.
Finally, orientation meetings are important for new and outgoing staff.
3
Project Design and Management
Finance
Programming
The beginning of a project does not mean that achieving its objective
brings it to a terminal point. It may become a spiral of projects as part
of programmes. When this is done managing the project cycle
becomes less difficult. It is important to conduct mid term evaluations,
monitoring continuously throughout the project life cycle. Also
instituting a process and procedure as well as having a member of
trustee and a director to meet with the regular staff makes it easier to
manage the project.
Concept papers or note are usually between two five pages, while a
proposal is most often more voluminous. However, the major
4
difference between a concept paper and a proposal is this, concept
papers initiate a discussion while proposals would gain approval of the
project.
5
What should be considered in order to assess and determine whether
an electoral or political process is genuine and would contribute to the
effective sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. The critical elements of
a genuine and competitive electoral process are:
Pre-election Processes:
Have a checklist name, organisation, time the observer/monitor got
there, time the person left, etc.
6
Types of monitoring or observation:
o statutory monitoring;
o quasi-monitoring; and
o Observation.
Understanding Management
Controlling has to do with guiding the work process, and the ability
to curtail hiccups in achieving success. It is also about setting
standards of performance to measure individual aptitudes to correct
deviation.
7
A manager manages men, women and resources to achieve set goals.
There are 2 types of managers vertical managers top down or
bottom up and horizontal or functional managers.
The Behavioural School recognizes that men and women not only
have biological and physical differences but also psychological
limitations that affect the social work functions. This school seeks to
understand the psychological aspects that enhance the job to cope
with other peoples limitations. It is considered a wide goose chase
given the complex nature of man, it is difficult to understand them.
8
The Post Modern school focuses on the relationship between
people (human relations school), and emphasises psychological issues,
etc, while the Qualitative school uses mathematical models to
deduce problems. And finally, the Post Modern School uses cognitive
school knowledge based on getting information to enhance the
organisational base. It looks at marginal issues and how they can
enhance organisations to achieve results.
Project Management
The vision inspiration, dream, passion, etc for thing must be shared
by the project team. The visionaire is often the project manager, but
what if someone else besides the dreamer heads it? Does the dream
die when its not accepted by the team?
Accountability
9
The two types of accounting in NGOs are Vertical accounting with
donor organisations some give you an accounting system to follow
with guidelines and report back to them, and the other is the
Horizontal accounting being accountable to the stakeholders
(people) staff, board, volunteers, communities, etc.
Programme Performance
Create scarcity or want to make people crave for what you are doing
and concentrate your resources on where the results are and build on
your experience.
Election Monitors/Observers
10
o Report irregularities early, within 15 minutes;
o Ensure that papers are held up after voting during the counting
process.
Summary of Activities
Observation
11
information bridges that are logical consequences of a staff retreat
would obviously be lacking at the end of the exercise. Furthermore, the
corporate identity harmonisation module indicated that staff may not
have been subjected to any form of orientation at recruitment.
Lessons Learnt
He also believes that the staff of PANAFSTRAG like all other NGOs are
concerned with providing qualitative services, but require a lot of
capacity building in order to meet up with the challenges of their
mandate. Like most others, the staff will have to improve on their
ability to cope with the rigours of the in-depth stakeholders analysis
within a framework of appreciative inquiry.
Recommendations
Follow-up/Way forward
PANAFSTRAG,
LAGOS.
12