Harvard Case - Yla Eason (A)
"Yla Eason (A)" Harvard business case study is written by Kathleen Meyer, Suzanne Allen, Laura Wattenberg. It deals with the challenges in the field of Social Enterprise. The case study is 7 page(s) long and it was first published on : Dec 15, 1996
At Fern Fort University, we recommend Yla Eason pursue a hybrid organizational structure, incorporating elements of both a for-profit social enterprise and a nonprofit organization. This approach will enable her to leverage the strengths of both models while addressing the unique challenges of her mission to provide affordable and accessible education to underserved communities in the developing world.
2. Background
Yla Eason is a passionate social entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for children in developing countries. Her organization, 'The Bridge,' aims to provide affordable and accessible education through a unique model that combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. The case study highlights the challenges Yla faces in scaling her organization while maintaining financial sustainability and ensuring the quality of her educational programs.
The main protagonists in the case study are:
- Yla Eason: The founder and CEO of The Bridge, a passionate advocate for education and social justice.
- The Bridge: A non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible education to underserved communities in developing countries.
- The Board of Directors: A group of individuals responsible for overseeing the organization's strategic direction and financial health.
- The Stakeholders: The diverse group of individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in The Bridge's success, including students, teachers, donors, and government agencies.
3. Analysis of the Case Study
The case study presents a complex situation where Yla Eason needs to balance competing priorities:
- Social Impact: The primary goal of The Bridge is to provide quality education to underserved communities. This requires a focus on affordability, accessibility, and curriculum relevance.
- Financial Sustainability: The Bridge needs to generate sufficient revenue to cover its operational costs and expand its reach. This necessitates exploring different funding models and revenue streams.
- Organizational Growth: To achieve its mission, The Bridge needs to scale its operations, which requires efficient management, effective marketing, and strategic partnerships.
To analyze the situation effectively, we can utilize the Triple Bottom Line framework, which considers the social, environmental, and economic impacts of an organization.
Social Impact:
- Positive Impact: The Bridge provides a much-needed service by offering affordable and accessible education to communities lacking educational opportunities.
- Challenges: Ensuring quality education, adapting curriculum to local contexts, and addressing cultural and linguistic barriers are crucial.
Environmental Impact:
- Positive Impact: The Bridge's online learning platform minimizes the environmental footprint associated with traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
- Challenges: The organization needs to ensure the sustainability of its technology infrastructure and minimize its carbon footprint.
Economic Impact:
- Positive Impact: The Bridge creates jobs and stimulates economic activity in the communities it serves.
- Challenges: The organization faces a constant need for funding, and needs to develop a sustainable revenue model to ensure long-term viability.
The case study also highlights the importance of Social Enterprise Governance and Social Impact Measurement. Yla needs to establish clear governance structures, define key performance indicators (KPIs), and track the social impact of her organization to ensure accountability and transparency.
4. Recommendations
To address the challenges and opportunities presented in the case study, we recommend Yla Eason pursue the following:
- Hybrid Organizational Structure: Adopt a hybrid model that combines elements of a for-profit social enterprise and a non-profit organization. This will allow The Bridge to access diverse funding sources, including grants, investments, and social impact bonds, while maintaining its commitment to social impact.
- Sustainable Business Model: Develop a sustainable business model that generates revenue through multiple channels, such as:
- Tuition Fees: Offer affordable tuition fees that are accessible to low-income families.
- Corporate Partnerships: Partner with corporations that are committed to social responsibility and can provide financial support, resources, and volunteer opportunities.
- Social Impact Bonds: Explore social impact bonds that align with the organization's mission and allow investors to earn returns based on the social impact achieved.
- Social Innovation: Continuously innovate and adapt its educational model to meet the evolving needs of its students and communities. This could include:
- Blended Learning: Integrate online learning with traditional classroom instruction to provide a more flexible and engaging learning experience.
- Personalized Learning: Develop adaptive learning platforms that cater to individual student needs and learning styles.
- Community Engagement: Involve local communities in the design and delivery of educational programs to ensure relevance and cultural sensitivity.
- Strategic Partnerships: Form strategic partnerships with other organizations, including government agencies, NGOs, and educational institutions, to leverage resources, expertise, and networks.
- Impact Measurement: Develop a robust impact measurement framework to track the social, environmental, and economic impact of The Bridge's programs. This will help the organization demonstrate its value, attract investors, and improve its effectiveness.
- Governance and Transparency: Establish clear governance structures, ethical guidelines, and transparent financial reporting to ensure accountability and build trust with stakeholders.
5. Basis of Recommendations
These recommendations are based on the following considerations:
- Core Competencies and Consistency with Mission: The Bridge's core competency lies in its ability to deliver quality education to underserved communities. The recommended approach aligns with this mission by ensuring financial sustainability while maintaining a focus on social impact.
- External Customers and Internal Clients: The recommendations address the needs of both external customers (students and communities) and internal clients (teachers and staff). The hybrid model ensures access to quality education for students, while the sustainable business model provides a stable work environment for teachers and staff.
- Competitors: The Bridge faces competition from other organizations offering educational services. The recommended approach differentiates The Bridge by focusing on affordability, accessibility, and social impact.
- Attractiveness - Quantitative Measures: The recommended approach is attractive to investors and donors because it offers a potential for both financial return and social impact.
Assumptions:
- The Bridge has a strong leadership team with the skills and experience to implement the recommended changes.
- The organization can secure the necessary funding to support its growth and expansion.
- The Bridge can build strong partnerships with other organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
6. Conclusion
By adopting a hybrid organizational structure, developing a sustainable business model, and embracing social innovation, The Bridge can achieve its ambitious goals of providing quality education to underserved communities while ensuring its long-term financial sustainability. This approach will allow Yla Eason to scale her organization, maximize its impact, and create a lasting legacy of educational opportunity for generations to come.
7. Discussion
Alternative Options:
- Purely Nonprofit Model: This option would rely solely on grants and donations, which could be challenging to secure in the long term.
- Purely For-Profit Model: This option could compromise the organization's commitment to social impact by prioritizing profit over social good.
Risks and Key Assumptions:
- Funding Challenges: Securing sufficient funding to support the hybrid model and its growth plans could be challenging.
- Organizational Complexity: Managing a hybrid organization with both for-profit and non-profit elements could be complex and require strong leadership.
- Market Competition: The Bridge may face competition from other organizations offering similar services, requiring effective marketing and differentiation strategies.
8. Next Steps
To implement the recommended approach, Yla Eason should take the following steps:
- Develop a detailed strategic plan: Outline the organization's vision, mission, goals, and strategies for achieving them.
- Refine the business model: Define revenue streams, cost structures, and key performance indicators.
- Secure funding: Identify potential investors and donors and develop a fundraising plan.
- Establish governance structures: Define roles and responsibilities for the board of directors and management team.
- Develop impact measurement framework: Define key performance indicators and methods for tracking social impact.
- Build strategic partnerships: Identify potential partners and develop collaboration agreements.
- Implement change management strategies: Communicate the new approach to stakeholders and provide training and support to staff.
By taking these steps, The Bridge can successfully transition to a hybrid organizational structure and achieve its mission of providing quality education to underserved communities while ensuring its long-term financial sustainability.
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Case Description
In 1985, Yla Eason was shocked by her young son's comment that he could never be a "superhero" because all superheroes were white. Concerned that her son had already limited his aspirations as a result of his race, she searched futilely for an African-American superhero doll. The Harvard MBA soon realized that she had found an important unmet need--and a potential untapped market. Within months, Eason had conducted market research, secured investors, and created a prototype African-American superhero doll for her new company, Olmec Toys. She approached the major toy store buyers to pitch her product, only to find an unreceptive, skeptical audience. Buyers responded that if ethnically correct dolls were in demand, the big toy manufacturers would already have manufactured them. How can Eason open buyers' eyes to the shifting market and inherent business opportunity?
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