good better best

The catch cry across the business world is growth and apparently growth is good. It seems that the latest trends in business are reflected, eventually, in the community sector. Just like the Onceler in Dr Seuss' wonderful story The Lorax, the focus is on biggering and biggering and biggering and BIGGERING.
There are many arguments for and against growth. The first one tends to focus, reasonably, on the issue of quality. "Can we maintain the quality while we increase the quantity?" is a fair and reasonable question for community groups and not-for-profit organisations. It is not a question that necessarily gets asked however. Even in the community sector there is such a thing as empire building and there most certainly are some pretty big egos.
Many community groups have found that their moves towards growth have bent them out of shape. Smaller organisations can find the growing pains untenable.
Some smart people have shown us there are ways to reach more people and maintain quality without having to "go national" or multiply the organisational budget by thousands or millions.
Some thoughts on this from people who have been on the grow - shrink - grow - shrink treadmill...
* have a very clear plan (yes it sounds obvious, but the plan is often missing or not shared or altered several times....)
* partner with complementary organisations rather than trying to be all things to all people
* piggy back on existing services rather than creating another set of infrastructure that will need people, resources, funding, updating, maintaining... for many years to come
* conduct a thorough research process and take time to do it
* ask the hard questions: Is what you are doing really that invaluable? Could another organisation do what you do in the state or territory you are looking to step into? Are you claiming territory simply because it is there?
* only embark on the growth process when there is committed funding over a minimum three year period
If you do this kind of due diligence beforehand, you may decide growth is not the best option. And if you do decide to grow after proper preparation, your organisation will be in a better position to create durable programs for years to come.
Which everyone everyone everyone needs! {Apologies to those who are unfamiliar with Dr Seuss. May I make one more reading recommendation - get his books: they are not just for children.}