Salvation Army – “Be aware of what you are getting in to.”

Pros

Sense of humanitarian mission. Contact with many caring and compassionate people. Ability to respond quickly with assistance for those in need without "eligibility filters"

Cons

-Truly an "army" characterized by rank and blind obedience.
- Widespread distain and disrespect for staff who are not officers of TSA.
- Individual initiative is discouraged-even punished.
- Intense focus on public fundraising and raising money but internal inefficiencies overlooked.
- Up-to-date management skills and practices sorely lacking. Salvation Army officers and members are internally schooled in religiously focused academies; few to none receive outside schooling or have a college education. Strong internal network of interlocking families; TSA operates as a closed religious community within modern society.
- Random rotations occur yearly, disrupting continuity and relationships in local offices.
- "Regular" (secular) staff not pressured to be "religious", but you will always be an "outsider" no matter how skilled or professional you are.
- Recognized as "spiritual counselors" but overall, officers have no knowledge or awareness of valid psychological or counseling skills; focus is on "bringing people to Jesus." Good for insecure people who want a strict dictated sense of "belonging."
- Within a small defined role, can provide much meaningful support to individuals and groups in need, but will eventually hit up against hypocrisy, lack of respect, and internal ineffectiveness of "the Army way."

Advice to Senior Management

Modernize.