I remember a friend of mine who worked a six month contract for a non-profit commenting that the organization thought that since they were sending her to a volatile area, it would be wise for her to have a Blackberry for quick communication. The catch: she would have to buy it herself. Naturally, this was because they couldn’t afford it. Frankly my friend didn’t need a Blackberry to survive on her mission – she just needed a working cell-phone with text message capability – definitely a cast off at this stage for any company that considers itself technologically advanced, but definitely a treasure for the group that doesn’t even have the basics. Had her organization realized this, they could have pro-actively sought out the tools she would have needed in order to be safe, rather than throwing up their hands in despair and effectively suggesting that she secure her own protection.
One good thing about technology for me, is the speed at which technology changes. There is opportunity here for non profit organizations which are struggling with budgetary concerns. We can’t have the newest, latest or greatest without salivating for the newer, later and greater. The problem arises because often we think if we don’t have the latest technology, then nothing we have is as good. But the truth is that the quick evolution of technology means that what will be produced tomorrow is built on what is produced today and often – the two are not much different. Shrewd and creative non-profit leaders should seek out and cultivate relationships with for-profit organizations that consider themselves trend-setting and cutting edge, with a goal of becoming the benefactors of the technological cast-offs.
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