9.2.3 Organizational Structure
(Chapters 7 and 8 address organizational structure in the pre-establishment and establishment phases, and section 9.2.1 of this chapter for sequencing growth.)
By this time, it should be possible to assess whether the NHRI structure is, in fact, working.
You have been working over several months to help establish a NHRI. Now that the NHRI has opened its doors, it has become clear that the organizational structure is not working well. Too many senior members appear to have competing or overlapping responsibilities, and there is no executive director.
Staff members are pulled in different directions by well-meaning commissioners who insist on having direct supervision and on making every hiring decision, from directors to drivers and cleaners. Operations have ground to a halt. Staff feel that they have to report to multiple supervisors and are worried about offending their senior staff and are afraid of making mistakes.
You know you cannot intervene directly, but you have been asked confidentially for guidance. What do you do?
The assessment process can start by asking staff, through a confidential internal review process, what the issues are, and what solutions they might propose. A similar exchange should take place with members.
UNCT can assist by providing examples of different possible structures (looking at different models used in successful NHRIs in the region, for example).
A good opportunity to introduce these types of support and assistance, if required and requested, is at the time of the mid-term institutional evaluation. Selected experts should have extensive experience not only in evaluation but also in organisational structure and development. Inserting a process of review and following up with confidential recommendations on the organisational structure is one useful strategy that has been effective in the past.
Assigning clear reporting lines and ensuring that member have well defined roles is part of the solution, and this is part of the human resources aspect of organisational development.