Non-Profit & Trade Associations Success Story -

Challenge: Two non-profit organizations in New York were considering a merger. The executive leaders of both groups and their members were becoming increasingly distressed about the direction in which the discussions were going and needed objective insight to help them better focus the process and make sure they were making the right decision.

JCS Solution: We reviewed the deliberation process and talked with all parties involved in it. We identified critical differences in communication styles, differences in assumptions made in the planning process, a lack of consensus agreement on the overall strategic direction for the merged organization, and fundamental differences in the cultures of both groups. We discovered the two organizations were communicating with their members in a very different manner and the lack of balance in the dissemination of information to both groups had increased the frustration and confusion among the membership. Despite their intentions, the approach toward the negotiations by one of the organizations, and many of the assumptions regarding staffing and operations, had created the appearance that the merger would actually be an acquisition of the other group. We recommended that the process be slowed down and suggested a variety of steps to restructure the process to ensure that members of both organizations would get their needs met.

Results: The organizations restructured their approach to the merger discussion and focused on ensuring that the new organization would effectively represent their collective interests. The two organizations did merge and successfully integrated their membership, leadership and staff.

Research Services:

Analysis Services:

Market Studies
Company Evaluations
Situation Analysis
Market Opportunity Analysis
Industry Trends Analysis
Product or Service Concept Development
Marketing Audits

Planning Services: