Analytical and Adaptive Capacities

Unpredictable, unfavourable and frequently changing environments represent major challenges to CSOs. To respond effectively to these changes organisations need the ability to gain a systemic understanding of the complex circumstances in which they operate and adapt in flexible, creative and innovative ways.

The development of analytical and adaptive capacity may help CSOs with this ability to respond to change. Analytical and adaptive capacity is all about having the judgement, self-confidence and self-reflection to critically assess a situation in order to change actions or practice. Stronger analytical and adaptive capacity can also help CSOs gain the confidence to change their own reality through improved practice.

Praxis Paper 7 'Building Analytical and Adaptive Capacities for Organisational Effectiveness' suggests that by helping CSOs to understand and strengthen analytical and adaptive capacities, we may help them increase their effectiveness. The authors offer a cross-disciplinary review of current thinking about analytical and adaptive capacity, drawing on fields such as organisational learning and change, strategic management, systems thinking and complexity theory.

Praxis publications on the topic

Praxis Note 22 'Building Organisational Capacity through Analytical Skills Training in Central Asia'

Praxis Paper 7 'Building Analytical and Adaptive Capacities for Organisational Effectiveness'

Praxis Note 9
'Metaphor and Analogy: Creating Meaning and Understanding Complexity'