Homa Koohi, B.Sc in EE, MBA, is a MPA/ID candidate at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a current intern of IMAGO Global Grassroots.
Homa spent her summer collaborating with PCIC to develop structured models to inform PCIC’s strategic decision making in the upcoming year.
We interviewed her to share the scope and application of her work. She hopes to continue working with PCIC as part of her capstone project for the Kennedy School.
What were your goals for this project?
PCIC is a growing non-profit and is aiming to scale up in the next few years. The purpose of my project was to map the external and internal systems in which PCIC operates, to better understand the leverage points for PCIC’s growth.
Throughout the duration of my project, I conducted an extensive literature review covering topics such as the capability trap, capacity building in nonprofit organizations and system mapping to feed the design and process of my research here at PCIC.
During the internal information gathering phase of my project, I utilized qualitative methods of observing and interviewing staff and the management team at PCIC.
To make sense of my findings, I leveraged data analysis tools to map the trends of specific variables over the past few years to gain a deeper understanding of certain outcomes. Specifically, I created System Dynamics Models to identify growth dynamics of PCIC.
What was the scope and outcome of your work product?
I have developed Causal Loop Diagrams of the growth model of PCIC, with specific emphasis on mechanisms on how to attract partners and how PCIC’s products and service offerings can influence PCIC’s place in the market.
Additionally, by analyzing the capabilities and capacity of each team at PCIC and the whole organization, I’ve provided recommendations regarding what PCIC needs to focus on to be able to grow and be sustainable in the process.
How might PCIC use your models in the future?
As with other non-profits in the startup phase, PCIC is focused on growth while constrained by capacity.
It is very important in this phase to identify the main capabilities that are driving growth, make sure they are improving, and include them as part of a capacity building plan to ensure sustainable growth.
The models provide a structured way to test internal hypothesis about how PCIC’s capacities and capabilities can best be managed to support PCIC’s scaling plan.
