The Big Picture

WHY USE THIS TOOL?

This Organisational Strength Map has been developed for IFEX members, and is designed to help you understand your organisation’s strengths and opportunities in meeting the goal of fostering free expression. It will give you a snapshot of your organisation’s position in the organisational development landscape, which you can use to plan the next steps in your organisation’s growth. You can use it as a starting point to generate new conversations in your organisation, or contribute to ongoing discussions. The results may also help you more accurately present your organisation to the public, media and donors.

HOW TO USE THIS TOOL?

Each section represents one important part of your organisation’s work. Under each section are a few statements to get you thinking about how your organisation is positioned in that area. After you have read each statement, you are asked to determine if this area represents an organisational strength or challenge, from your organisation’s perspective. Based on your responses, your position in the landscape will correspond to recommendations relating to your organisation’s next steps on your journey.

You can use this tool section by section or all at once. One person could do the whole map for your organisation, or several individuals could do it separately and then compare recommendations. Or a group of people could do it together and through discussion come to agreement on each response.

If you encounter difficulties in using the tool, or spot things that you think should be changed, let IFEX know about them. This tool may be revised after it has been used for a while. Write to us at members@ifex.org and give us your feedback.

Start with any section you like! Each section takes only a few minutes to fill in. Nobody outside your organisation will see the results unless you choose to share them, and there are no wrong or right answers — just your best thinking at this moment on your organisation’s position in its own organisational development landscape.