ExCEL3

  Strategic Collaboration between Nonprofits and Business

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Strategic Collaboration between Nonprofits and Business – The Case of St James’ Settlement and Octopus Cards Limited

(Keyword: strategic collaboration)

By Ms Chen Shangshang, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong under the supervision of Dr Terence Yuen and Dr Helen K Liu

“Strategic Collaboration between Nonprofits and Business” is a case to introduce the complexity of cross-sector collaboration at a new stage, which goes beyond check writing and engages corporate volunteers. Such transformation presents new challenges for some NGO practitioners, with a role change from a front-line social worker to a facilitator and collaborator.

This case features the collaboration between St James’ Settlement (SJS) and Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) on a joint program to enrich educational opportunities for children from low-income families. The case intends to capture how an NGO manager tackled the challenges by adapting to the business culture and developing new skillsets on the job. The target audience of the case would be NGO practitioners and MPA students, ideally with relevant work experience. It could also provide valuable exposure to undergraduate students regardless of their disciplines.

Case Summary

Case (full version)