We hear a lot in recent years about the changing nature of work and employment– notions of serial jobs, multiple careers, flat and networked organizations, the information or idea economy, the notion that our industrial-era model of factory work is no longer appropriate, the structureless organization model of Valve, etc.

How are non-profits responding to these forces? Are they being embraced? Are they saying “Wow– we’ve always been models for organizational change”?

I don’t think so. The mantra for some time among non-profit leaders has been to become more “business-like.” Which often means formal structures with layers of hierarchy and factory-style bureaucracy.

In other words, the “corporate non-profit” model.

I’m not sure that’s a good model. But I also don’t see any significant disruptive force emerging that can help change that. Is there an opportunity there?