Comparison of the Smith Family with Other Charities - Case Study Example

Table of Contents Introduction 2 About the Organization 2 SWOT Analysis 3 Comparison of “The Smith Family” with other charities 6 Recommendations 7 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction The report uses a SWOT framework to analyze the manner in which “The Smith Family” which is a charitable organization in Australia works. The report analyzes the “The Smith Family” by comparing it with other charitable organizations like Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Save the Children and other charitable organizations. This will thereby help to understand the strategic positioning of “The Smith Family” in comparison to others and will help to develop strategies based on which the charitable organization can achieve better results in the future. About the Organization “The Smith Family” is an independent children’s charity working for disadvantaged children so that the children from the education imparted to them can create the required atmosphere which will help them to be successful. Presently, “The Smith Family” works in 97 communities and has helped to improve the condition of more than 19,600 people and has over 7,800 volunteers working for them (Smith, 2013). “The Smith Family” started their noble cause in 1922 when five business man came together to improve the condition of children through better education facilities. Since, then the organization has grown leap and bounds and contributes towards improving the depriving condition of children (Smith, 2013). The organization since their inception has looked at improving the education to children so that they can contribute positively towards their own development and have been thereby able to work towards the improvement of the condition of children in Australia. Mission: “The Smith Family” has identified a mission statement which directs and governs the working style and is creating opportunities for young Australians by providing the support which they need through improvement in education and ensuring that the children are able to use it for the growth (Smith, 2013). The organization has followed the same mission all along and has been successful by ensuring that a proper framework which is aimed at developing an environment is created (Hassay and Peloza, 2005). This has helped “The Smith Family” to contribute positively towards the society and the economy as a whole. SWOT Analysis The analysis will look at the internal and external factors thereby help to understand the manner in which “The Smith Family” has been able to work on the different areas. The SWOT is as under Strengths Firstly, “The Smith Family” has ensured that the mechanism through which money is raised appeals people and helps to get the required sum. This can be seen from the fact that the “The Smith Family” advertised a child finding it difficult to go to school because of the lack of money. The advertised instead of focusing on the product highlighted the actual adversity and helped to appeal people (Campbell, 2009). This has a vast difference compared to the advertisements provided by Save the Children where the actual meaning that the advertisement looks to convey is lost. Thus, the development of advertisements which helps to appeal people and ensure that the required funds can be garnered is one of the biggest strengths being demonstrated by “The Smith Family”. Secondly, the organization is continuously witnessing a growth in community and volunteer base. This can be seen from the presence in over 97 communities has over 7,800 volunteers working for them. The sheer presence and working on the same business model has helped them to ensure better services to the society. In comparison to it the Salvation Army has become stagnant and is not witnessing the same pace which is being highlighted by “The Smith Family” has further complicated the matter for other charities. Thirdly, “The Smith Family” is one of the most fastest and renowned charitable organization due to contribution being made to the society. Since, “The Smith Family” has followed the mission statement and aims for the benefit of most it has been able to transform and bring a change in the market by appealing people to contribute positively either in goods, clothes or money so that people especially children can be helped (Hobbs, 2013). Fourthly, “The Smith Family” has developed an entrepreneurship and research and development model of modeling which has helped them to innovate and develop better means to raise funds. The different funds raising charities conducted at different places like Woolworths are an example in that direction (Henry, 2009). “The Smith Family” has thereby developed a model which has helped them to work on the fundamentals of delivering better services. Weakness Firstly, “The Smith Family” lacks the encouragement that needs to be depicted for social entrepreneurship which has thereby reduced the zeal and enthusiasm. Despite, have entrepreneurship as their main pillar the lack of encouragement in recent time is an area of concern and raises concerns regarding the measures through which better productivity will be gained Secondly, increasing pressure due to changes in the socio economic diversity which hasn’t been handled properly by “The Smith Family”. This has led towards stiffer competition from other charities like Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Save the Children and other charitable organizations which are an area that has to be focused. Thirdly, the increasing complexity in the agreement with other sectors based on innovation and research has complicated the matter. This has resulted in increasing competition and difficulties in raising the required funds making it difficult to carry out the activities in an effective and coordinated manner (Passey, 2000). Opportunities Firstly, the huge number of disadvantaged children still in Australia. This provides an opportunity where “The Smith Family” can look to garner the required funds through different fund raising program and look at improving the overall condition of the children so that they are able to support their future development through better education (Trigger, 2013). Secondly, “The Smith Family” has developed an entrepreneurship and research and development model of modeling which has helped them to innovate and develop better means to raise funds. The different funds raising charities conducted at different places like Woolworths are an example in that direction (Henry, 2009). “The Smith Family” has thereby developed a model which has helped them to work on the fundamentals of delivering better services. Thirdly, an opportunity where the “The Smith Family” can develop models and techniques through which better funds can be raised through charities and contribute positively towards the development of the children. This will help to provide the required impetus and ensure better policies aimed at development of children. Threats Firstly, rapid changes in the socio economic environment have made it difficult to garner a process through which “The Smith Family” will be able to deal with the changes. This requires better policies and the ability to change with the environment so that long term sustenance can be achieved. Secondly, a change in the government policies with regard to the reduction of financial commitment towards non performing charitable organizations is an area of concern. This has multiplied the complexities as “The Smith Family” is finding it difficult to raise the required finance through different charities. Thirdly, an increase in the resistance towards collaboration among the different service providers. This has resulted increased competition and has made it difficult for the organizations to carry out the functions as all charities look to compete with each other instead of working in tandem with each other (Landry, Price, and Rupp, 2006). Comparison of “The Smith Family” with other charities A comparison of “The Smith Family” with other charities like Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Save the Children and other charitable organizations shows that “The Smith Family” is better committed towards its mission and has worked on the same agenda since its incorporation. Other charitable organization with time have amended and changed their style of working by looking at identifying the different areas through which better performance can be delivered (Apinunmahakul and Devlin, 2004). This has thereby resulted in creating differences and has forced charitable organizations to move from their core activity. In addition to it, “The Smith Family” has ensured that they develop new and innovative ways of promoting and creating awareness. This has helped them to raise funds in a far superior manner compared to others (Callinan, 2012). Other charities haven’t been able to garner the same public response and appeal which has thereby resulted in creating differences and has made it difficult for the organization to carry out the different functions. Recommendations “The Smith Family” needs to look at incorporating the following so that they are able to continue to perform in a similar manner Develop innovative and productive methods which will be aimed at improving the overall process of appeal so that it will help to attract more and more people towards the charity. This will help to raise the required funds and will contribute positively towards the goal. Work on the same model and aim at improving the education for children as the same has helped them to contribute positively and will help them to ensure timely changes Change with the evolving socio economic environment so that an atmosphere is developed which looks towards long term development and being able to deal with competition in a productive manner Conclusion The paper thereby shows the manner in which “The Smith Family” has performed by looking at the SWOT framework and highlighting the different areas like innovativeness, appeal, socio economic changes and others which have to be focused. This will help to improve the overall functioning and ensure better service standards. References Apinunmahakul and Devlin (2004). Charitable giving and charitable gambling: an empirical investigation. National Tax Journal, LVII (1), 67-88 Campbell, M. (2009). Review: The Smith’s Family More Than Just Money. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://www.theenthusiast.com.au/archives/2009/review-the-smith-familys-more-than-just-money/ Callinan, R. (2012). Lookalike hit charity supplies. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lookalikes-hit-charity-supplies-20121223-2bttx.html Hobbs, M. (2013). Charity phone app makes giving easy. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://www.afr.com/p/national/charity_phone_app_makes_giving_easy_VxlqH5hFFYPUGMkSFfLZvL Henry, E. (2009). The Smith Family. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://www.woolworths.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/woolworths/about+us/community/charity+partners/the+smith+family Hassay and Peloza (2005). FUNdraising: having fun while raising funds. Advances in Consumer Research, 32 Landry, L., Price, L. and Rupp. T. (2006). Toward an understanding of the economics of charity: evidence from a field experiment. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 121 (2), 747-782 Passey, D. (2000) Charity and lottery: the British experience. The Philanthropist, 16 (1), 33-41 Smith. (2013). The Smith Family. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/site/page.cfm Trigger, R. (2013). Charity helps close education gap. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17497552/charity-helps-close-education-gap/ Read More