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It is incredibly rewarding working with non-profits (NPOs) to help them leverage the power of technology so that each donated dollar goes further in helping the people/causes their organization serves. A common misunderstanding is that NPOs have different technology needs from for-profit enterprises (i.e. companies) because of their emphasis on service rather than profit. I would argue that that is only true when both are failing to effectively utilize business technology. There are indeed unique ways in which NPOs and companies get it wrong, but there is a single foundational approach to getting it right, however distinct the final structure may end up appearing from the outside.

Think about a technology system designed by a coder versus one designed by a business analyst. The coder is always going to envision a coded solution whenever they encounter an area where an interface based solution isn't obvious to recreate an existing business process. The BA however is always focused on process, not mechanics. Therefore the BA is more likely to examine the reasons the interface and business process are not in synch and flesh out ways to bring them into alignment. Often what this reveals is a redundancy or conflict within the business process that had not been identified before the new technology was implemented. Sometimes a coded solution is necessary to make the interface fit the business process, but more frequently the technology reveals a shaky foundation.

I came across the following video when on Twitter looking at a non-profit tech related hashtags, and that is what got me thinking about how NPOs also need to focus on process first and foremost as the foundation of any new tech adoption. Otherwise you just find you can more efficiently execute bad policies and return inadequate results with fewer staff members, but no greater ultimate success. You just churn out more paperwork, more reports, more X, but do not do anything to increase the flow of effective communication, prevent or at least solve problems more quickly and effectively, spread an accurate message of your mission to those who would support it, collect financial support and track it accurately, and organize volunteer efforts most efficiently.

The video below focuses on this with regard to social media (spreading one's message through free social media), but the core idea could be applied to all areas of NPO utilization of technology:



Whenever I do a business technology system implementation for an NPO at some point I find myself making the case for more time up front on the Business Process Review. It is always hard for them to at first understand why we can't just recreate for them what they are already doing, only now within an online system that doesn't require an in-house IT department or any VPN connections for remote staff. In the end though, I simply won't take a project that doesn't have a sufficient block of hours devoted to examining the process and planning for a better one that takes advantage of the technology we are implementing as much as we can plan a way to do. That's the week you invest up front to make sure you don't find yourself needing another project a year later, once your initial pain points with in-house tech are long forgotten, to re-design the SaaS system so that it truly takes your operations to a new level of effectiveness.

Labels: Non-Profit_Tech