JACK MIXNER STRATEGY

By Jack Mixner

Business, NGOs, and Governments Work Together?

Businesses, non-governmental organizations or governmental agencies can no longer solve issues like globalization, health and environmental risks or inadequate infrastructure alone. Solutions demand the willingness and ability to work together at the intersection of the three groups – the Mega Community in Gerencser et al’s terminology. They use examples in Italy (securing availability of liquefied natural gas), AIDS in India, small business vitality in Harlem (a project led by Bill Clinton), and rain forest conservation in South America. The process seems particularly effective in communities where there is no clear leadership on issues the have long term effects.

The Orange County (California) Workforce Investment Board has a current project focusing on the nursing shortage. The WIB brought together management of hospitals, universities, and colleges all of whom had stakes in the problem. One of the outcomes is a new nursing school at the University of California Irvine. Everybody should be proud of the result.

How good is the OC solution?

Housing costs will eventually force nurses who work in Orange County to live elsewhere. Transportation costs, including travel time, will make that prohibitive. Even the new nursing programs will need short term (if not long term, as well) fill-in from nurses trained elsewhere. That backs into the national immigration discussions.

Suggestions from the Mega Community

• The community must realize there is a problem and come together to solve it together with none of the different leaders demanding the leadership role.
• Leaders must state what the problem is to a larger audience.
• Negotiation begins in a cross-sector solution.
• Experiment, learn, and monitor progress.

And in OC?

• Applaud current results in nursing.
• Address next phase in the larger discussions on, for instance, housing and infrastructure.
• Lead discussions with all the communities.
• Utilize a mega community for the solution.

Reference

Gerencser, Mark, Fernando Napolitano, and Reginald Van Lee. The Mega Community Manifesto. Public, private, and civil leaders should confront together the problems that none can solve alone. http://www.strategy-business.com/press/article/06208 . strategy+business. June 2006.