Achieving Organizational Excellence: NC Fusion Operating System

Organizational success is often a result of effective planning, seamless execution, and strong teamwork. For North Carolina Triad Fusion, Inc. (NC Fusion), a nonprofit entity serving the Triad region of North Carolina, achieving such success required a transformative shift in their strategic and operational approach. In this post, we will explore why IYSL recognizes NC Fusion for best practice in implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and we will reveal the profound impact it has had on their organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Best Practice #49 People Operating System: The organization has a system in place to help leaders run better businesses, oversee and gain more traction, have better life balance —with the entire organization advancing together as a cohesive team.

Background

In 2020, NC Fusion embarked on a 10-year strategic plan to redefine its mission and vision. However, the leaders quickly realized that without a structured system and processes to implement their objectives, the club was struggling to make progress. Like many organizations, the club faced the common challenge of aligning its strategic vision with day-to-day operations effectively.  To bridge the gap between vision and execution, NC Fusion turned to EOS, a comprehensive management framework that helps organizations streamline decision making processes. The implementation of EOS became a primary responsibility of Sarah Bridges, Chief Experience Officer at NC Fusion, working closely with an EOS Implementor and the club’s Executive Director, Scott Wollaston, who played the visionary role.

Key Elements of EOS Implementation:

NC Fusion established fourteen Level 10 staff groups, each meeting once a week with a lead facilitator trained by Sarah. These meetings follow a standardized agenda and processes aimed at converting issues into actionable to-do lists.  The executive leadership team meets quarterly with the EOS Implementor for a full day review session. During these meetings, club priorities (known as ‘Rocks’ are established for the next 90 days.  The club’s Board of Directors played a crucial role in supporting the EOS implementation while recognizing its limited involvement in day-to-day operations. This alignment between the board and leadership ensured a cohesive approach.

Transformative Changes:

One of the most significant changes brought about by EOS is the emphasis on referring all decision-making back to the club’s mission and vision. The staff now operates in a “90-day world,” focusing on more achievable steps to align with the organization’s purpose.  EOS fundamentally transformed how NC Fusion operates. Weekly meetings were reorganized into departmental groups, ensuring consistency in agenda and processes across the organization. This approach streamlined communication and issue resolution. 

Staff Engagement and Accountability

Every staff member at NC Fusion contributes to at least one Level 10 meeting, reporting on action items from the previous week and discussing new opportunities and challenges. Staff members have individual scorecards, which are tracked through EOS software. This system sends updates and reminders to staff, fostering accountability and transparency.

Cost-Effective Implementation

While hiring an EOS Implementor is an investment, the benefits NC Fusion has reaped from the system are clear: including, more staff accountability, clearer role definition, success in solving issues quickly, executing the organization’s vision and mission, cost saving and empowered staff members – to name just a few positive outcomes. Smaller youth sports clubs may view this cost as a barrier, but EOS can also be self-executed without an Implementor at a reduced cost, given the commitment of club leaders to their vision, mission, and processes.

Aligning People, Systems and Process for Success

The success story of North Carolina Triad Fusion, Inc. serves as a testament to the transformative power of adopting an Operating System in nonprofit organizations. Through structured meetings, clear alignment with mission and vision, and a focus on staff engagement and accountability, NC Fusion has not only enhanced its organizational efficiency but also strengthened its commitment to providing opportunities through sports to positively impact lives. EOS has proven that even in the complex world of youth sports clubs, a structured approach to management can lead to exceptional results.

Get Involved! It’s free and Open Source

Start by comparing your club’s performance to 60 best practices and access to IYSL Best Practice Analysis Tool and receive a detailed report.

Get recognized contact David Newbery if you have an example of best practice and are willing to share your story of success with the youth sports community.  [email protected]

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