Dear technologist,

May I have a moment of your time? If so, I would like to know if you have ever asked yourself, “What are the consequences of the advice I’m giving?” Or, let me ask, would you have the nerve to stand over the grave of a once-great social-benefit organization and say, “I did this. I am to blame.” If not, I plead with you, please keep your magic and “next big thing” in the corporate sector, or — better yet — use some of that glib approach and bravado to start your own company. Just stay away from our social-mission sector; it’s fragile enough on its own.

Just after the new year, Kim Elliot sent me a link to an interview with Michael Albert about the much-delayed re-launch of the whole Z communications family of Web sites, including Znet, Zmag, etc. The interview made my heart sink. In summary, Z communications — the 20-year-old media group with contributors like Noam Chomsky, Robert Fisk, John Pilger, Howard Zinn, Edward S. Herman, Eleanor Bader, and Barbara Ehrenreich — learned the hard way that large technology projects are not easy or without significant risk.  read more »

Have you ever seen one of those pyramids that describes food choices? Well, if you’re a “good vegetarian” like me, then you’ve probably seen your share, or have mentally created a few of your own. You might have even caught yourself thinking “Is a conventional vegetable within walking distance better than an organic one that I have to take public transportation to get?” — before realizing how circular those questions can be. That said, over the last couple of years, I’ve been thinking how helpful a software pyramid would be… as the saying goes: a picture is worth a thousand words. read more »

Over the last couple of weeks, I was thinking a lot about “network leadership,” and the role of innovative technology, and how it all becomes part of a movement here in Canada that could change the field of innovation. The last burning question for me is: How can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in catalyzing the necessary networks, and helping innovators build the necessary relationships?

Lots has already been said about the opportunities for a more holistic approach to financing non-profit technology initiatives. So, when it comes time to explore new ways of financing social innovation, I hope that foundations and grant makers will invest some time to integrate the “old” ideas too. But, when I return to the question “how can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in ensuring that technology projects are successful and sustainable,” I always come back to the same conclusion: the funding model needs to be innovative too. read more »

One of the questions that I’ve struggled with over the last couple of years is: What systemic changes are necessary to help catalyze innovation around social technology? I came back to this question the other week as the conversation swayed toward the opportunity for progressive organizations — and social innovators — to integrate social software, social networks, and the ideas of Web 2.0 into their work. I think for most of us who work in the non-profit technology space, the sparkle is off the Web 2.0 starburst, as we see organizations struggle to fully “get” what this new technology movement is all about.

What I do think is cool about Web 2.0 — especially when it comes to non-profit organizations and social innovators — is the operational style (business model if you must). Having a usable, interactive, data-exposing, read/write Web site is, in my opinion, more a function of a new approach to problem solving than a tectonic shift in the way the underlying technology works. read more »

Photo of Kirsten Jordan (Taking IT Global) and Andres Dussan (Askoka) by Michael Lewkowitz

How often have you sought to answer questions like “how can new technologies support social change that has impact, durability and scale?” or “is it possible to foster collaboration, sharing, and even co-development of technology solutions rather than everyone building their own or working in isolation?” Well, last week, I was surprised to find myself in a room with some of Canada’s brightest minds when it comes to social innovation and social technology (that is: technology in support of social innovation). We gathered early in the morning on July 26th at MaRS to do some brainstorming on how best to support innovative organizations to leverage appropriate technology, execute technology projects successfully, and how to build capacity for ongoing innovation and sustainable technology operations. read more »

I saw a note from long-time friend Amanda Hickman this week announcing the release of the “Base Edition of NGO-in-a-box”. It reminded me of all the work that’s been underway (for some years now) at Tactical Tech to get the NGO-in-a-Box project up-and-running. NGO-in-a-box is probably one of the most impressively organized projects in the social-technology sector … from the NGO-in-a-Box site:

NGO-in-a-box offers a set of peer reviewed and selected Free and Open Source software (F/OSS), tailored to the needs of NGO’s. It provides them not only with software, but also with implementation scenarios and relevant materials to support this. read more »

A certain amount of my work — more than none, but less than all — is dedicated to helping organizations explore the deeper questions of organizational strategy. Sure, they contacted me because they had a technology initiative in mind, or wanted some help with improving their online activities — but, more often than not, I come back to the fundamental realization that technology can’t solve inherently human problems.  read more »

In the the last newsletter, I announced an upcoming series of Lunch-and-learn technology presentations for non-profit leaders. The debut session will be on April 27th, with others planned for June, July, October, and November. I’ll be announcing when registration opens for the rest of the events on this list: so if you have a colleague that might benefit from these sessions, please consider sending them a note about it.  read more »

UPDATE: The first event date has been announced here. Register early to avoid disapointment.

Are you leading a charge for change, but lack time for professional development? Want to understand how to embrace mission-supporting technology, but don’t know where to start? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then do we have an offer for you. We provide the space. We provide the battle-hardened “expert.” And get this: all you have to do is show up. Interested? Read on… read more »

This will be the first in what is hopefully an ongoing series of “Question of the week” posts. I get a lot of questions from clients, friends, and peers that seem to require a similar answer every time. So, in an effort to beat you to the punch (and to save myself from repetitive strain injury), I’m just going to try and post a summary of my most common answers here.

This week: Should I use XYZ company for hosting?

I get this one so often that it actually hurts (well, not really, but I feel like a painfully broken record). It usually goes something like “I just received our bill for the our Web site, and it reminded me that someone suggested such-and-such hosting. They seem like a cheaper alternative…”

Of course, in passing conversation, there’s nothing wrong with a question like that. But, when that hosting is for a values-aligned organization — an environmental group, a social-service organization, a social-mission business or social enterprise, an NGO, etc. — I feel that the decision should carry more weight. read more »