Challenge. Per the guidelines issued by a corporate initiative, International Humanitarian Aid Non-Profit Organization’s program director and strategic planning director were planning to restructure the organization’s national volunteer program and needed a decision-support model that took into account key factors such as territory size, location of program offices, numbers of field staff and sponsors, and sponsor growth. To help her make a better decision, the program director wanted a multiple scenario decision-support model, with both data and schematic information, from which to choose the best course of action.
Approach. I interviewed the program director to determine important factors to consider in the re-structuring process. Working with the strategic planning director, I created a decision-support model with both data and schematic information that showed the existing 3-region as well as alternative 4-, 5-, and 6-region layouts and incorporated the key factors into the design. I then presented this finished model to the program director.
Results. International Humanitarian Aid Non-Profit Organization’s program director received a comprehensive strategic planning tool with which she could confidently restructure the program to address the requirements of the corporate initiative.