Stages in Organizational Development: The Fourth Stage: The Mature Organization

We have been comparing the stages in organizational growth to human growth. This month we will talk about the fourth of five stages: the mature organization.

Mature organizations like “mature” people may think that they have all the benefits of age: perspective, experience, and an enviable record of support and program delivery. But, maybe, just maybe, they are fooling themselves. Like younger organizations, they need to question themselves. Have they just become lazy; are they just doing the “same old same old;” or are they truly keeping up with change and making sure that what they are doing today is what the community needs?

Let’s look at the possible strengths and weaknesses of mature organizations.

Quality	Strengths	Weaknesses
Perspective	They have been around long enough to see some organizations come and some go. They are pretty sure that their organization must be worthwhile because it has survived, has donors, and has respectable people on the board.	What they view as perspective may be laziness or even, denial, an unwillingness to make the effort to see if any changes are needed in their programming in order to carry out their mission. “We’ve always done it that way,” can be a dangerous statement.
Experience	They have been through bad times and good and have confidence in their ability to choose the good.	Times change and what was “good” yesterday may not be the best tomorrow.
Pride	They are justifiably pleased with their success and prestige.	They can become bureaucratic and arrogant.
Sophisticated	They have been around long enough to believe they are not only effective but aware of all the possible pitfalls.	They may lose the enthusiasm, daring and passion that can make a nonprofit successful.