Organizational Maturity

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How do human measure things? Physically we measure with various types of rulers using defined standards (inches, acres, gallons, etc.). This can be done on atomic scale and below, or an astronomical scale and above. We can also ask how do we measure less tangible objects? (love, hate, concern, freedom, etc.). The answer to both of these is the same. We measure with words! We assign meaning to words, then try to use them with what we perceive are agreed meanings for those words. Which explains why we often disagree when we don’t have the same understanding of the meanings we assign to those words. When we throw in multiple languages and the nuances associated with different grammar structures we can see why we have conflicts both at a personal and global level. Much of human history is colored by our using words to measure. So, how do we measure God?

With words of course. When we say God is all-powerful, all-good, all-merciful, all-just, do we all agree and understand what we have perceived? It is in this context that I hope my thoughts and comments are judged. I will do my best to explain what I mean and hope that they will reach some level of understanding with the reader. 

My main theme is that the Catholic Church has deviated from its primary mission and the Lord’s will. I know the good the church has done and is doing. At the same time, I see that it has failed to build on its solid foundations and is failing where it should be leading. How do I measure this? With words. The church is divinely inspired, but it is a human institution. I am not God, so I can only use the human tools the Lord has given me to try and measure. I have no expertise in relating to two thousand years of the many successes and failures of both Saints and Sinners. I can only take a summary view to establish the context. The measuring rod I start with is referred to as organizational maturity. Lest one protest that the church should not be judged by human standards, I point out that many of the human standards were in fact created by the church (fairness, freedom, peace, charity, etc.). In fact, the underlying standard modeled and promulgating for our secular world is based on the second greatest commandment (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). If that is what has driven the development of our secular society (not perfect yet) then that is also one of the criteria by which we should judge the church. I begin by explaining the maturity model I will use. 

It consists of five levels.

· Level 1 Initial

· Level 2 Repeatable

· Level 3 Defined

· Level 4 Managed

· Level 5 Optimizing

It is not my intent to make either a business or psychological treatise so I will just distill my discussion to bare essentials.

In Level 1, an organization starts on its mission and has successes and failures in a somewhat random way that depends on the individuals involved and varied circumstances. There is little predictability in whether some attempt will succeed or fail.

In Level 2, experience and trial and error lead to a level of repeatability. Successes and failures are easier to predict, and similar issues result in similar results.

In Level 3, the organization has matured to the point that it has established rules and guidelines and documented its processes which results in repeatable results across disparate and separate groups of individuals within the organization.

In Level 4, the organizations processes are not only well documented, but they are also measured. This allows similar processes to be compared and evaluated. Thus, the overall “costs/benefits” can be managed and individual subunits of the organization trained and improved.

In Level 5, the groups responsible for a particular process have both the tools, responsibility, and authority for managing and optimizing that process to keep it successful.

Given human nature it is and has been rare that an organization will be at Level 5 and even if that level is achieved, it is even more difficult maintaining that level given changes in personnel and resources. 

That being the case, let us explore our understanding of how the Catholic church measures against these definitions. Next. Mission of the church.