Details

Case

Progressive Education Network (PEN)

Shezeen Saleem Hemani, Arif Nazir Butt

INDUSTRY : Education, NGO

AREA : HRM/OB

ORGANIZATION : Progressive Education Network

LENGTH : 38

LUMS No : 05-743-2011-1

PUBLICATION YEAR : 2011

KEYWORDS:

Progressive Education Network,PEN,NGO,Primary & Secondary Education,Basic Education,Pakistan,Schools,Care Foundation,TCF,Finance,Human Resource

DESCRIPTION:

This case documents the background and organizational model of three NGOs; PEN, CARE and TCF, which are providing primary and secondary education to the underprivileged segment in Pakistan. PEN was established in 2005 by a group of seven friends, who initiated PEN with the objective of improving basic education in Pakistan. The founding members had planned to adopt government schools (mainly in the city of Lahore) and initiate policies and systems to improve the overall standard of education. PEN had filed a request with the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) requesting the adoption of 23 government schools. After a year of negotiation with the government, the adoption contract was still pending which resulted in agitation and disappointment amongst the PEN members. They were now standing at a threshold re-considering their decision; either wait for the government¿s approval regarding allotment of the government schools, or consider other options such as building their own schools. The founding members were considering the organizational models of two well-known NGOs in Pakistan; TCF and CARE. The two models were completely distinct in terms of their organizational philosophy, structure, functioning and scale of social impact. Yet each had a success story with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. It was now important to finalize the strategic decision based on the assessment of (i) the distinct characteristics of CARE and TCF model and their scale of social impact, and long term sustainability, and (ii) PEN¿s mission, vision, organizational, human resource and financial capabilities.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Through the case content, learning can be facilitated in the areas of: 1) Strategy and Management. 2) Organizational Capacity Bulding - its importance and role in growing social sector organizations. 3) Social Impact Theory - drivers of scaling social impact. 4) Social Entrepreneurship.

SUBJECTS COVERED:

Human Resource Management, Organizational Behaviour, Strategy And Management, Social Enterprise Management, Social Entrepreneurship/Responsibility