St. John the Compassionate Mission: Organizational Culture and Leadership

In May 2013, the founder and executive director of the St. John the Compassionate Mission, a faith-based, non-profit social service organization located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, needs to plan for his retirement. He has been the driving force behind the organization for the past 27 years, and it reflects his vision that meaningful work helps people get off welfare, attaining dignity and a sense of personal value in the process. To that end, the Mission provides opportunities for everyone in the community to work through employment in one of its two social enterprises — a thrift store and a bakery — or through volunteer opportunities. Because its organizational culture emphasizes collaboration and consultation not only with its staff leadership council and board of directors but also with all members of the community, its decision making has been fluid and in response to perceived needs rather than forward planning. Now he needs to ensure an effective succession that protects the organization's culture, values and beliefs and ensures the safety of a vulnerable population.

<ul></li>Describe the dimensions of servant leadership, organizational culture and succession planning.</li><li>Compare servant leadership to other leadership approaches, identifying its strengths and weaknesses and evaluating its appropriateness in other contexts.</li><li>Discuss the concept of servant leadership in organizational culture.</li><li>Develop a succession planning process to support, maintain and build organizational culture.</li></ul>

• Servant leadership
• succession planning
• organizational culture
• leadership
• Canada