We’re busy compiling data for our 2025 Chapter Benchmarking Study and looking forward to sharing the results with you in the coming months! In the meantime, be sure to check out these reports looking at the future of associations in a complicated and changing world.
📃 Lean at Ten: Culture Eats Methodology for Lunch
→ Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE and Guillermo Ortiz de Zárate revisit their 2015 paper Innovate the Lean Way which introduced the association community to lean startup methodology. This time, they team up with Cultural Scientist Jamie Notter to revisit the topic but with a new focus – how to change your workforce culture from one that resists innovation to one that eagerly embraces it. The paper includes case studies and resources for you to dig deeper.
Note: Stay tuned for a Q&A interview with the authors about the report and where we should go from here. Coming soon!
📃 Purpose Under Pressure: Global Association Trends 2025 Report (Global Association Research Initiative)
→ The association sector has entered a new reality where constant change, high expectations, and volatility are the norm. This means associations need to step it up to stay relevant. And according to Belinda Moore’s latest research many are. Based on insights from 580 professionals in 30 countries, the report identifies five key imperatives that future-focused associations are actively embedding into their decision-making to thrive in this environment: Navigate an Uncertain Environment, Build Strategic Infrastructure, Strengthen Financial Sustainability, Deliver Meaningful Value, Lead With Purpose.
Note: AI has upended how associations operate but bringing AI into the systems has become a huge challenge. Check out Belinda’s post on how she used AI (gasp!) to analyze the data for this report for a glimpse into the benefits of AI when it comes to helping us work better, smarter and faster.
*Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash