The Benefits and Barriers Associated with the Use of the Internet Within the Non-Profit Sector (original) (raw)
Public Administration Review, 2007
How are nonprofits using information technology (IT) to enhance mission-related outcomes and boost organizational performance? In this paper we examine large-scale survey data of nonprofits’ technology planning, acquisition, and implementation to assess the strategic use of IT in these organizations. We further evaluate their strategic technology-use potential through an examination of those IT-related competencies and practices that the literature deems critical for the successful strategic employment of technology resources. We find several promising developments alongside significant deficits in the strategic utilization of IT, especially in the areas of financial sustainability, strategic communications and relationship-building, and collaborations and partnerships. To boost IT’s mission-related impact, nonprofits will have to enhance their organizational capacities in long-term IT planning; budgeting, staffing, and training; performance measurement; Internet and website capabilities; and the vision, support, and involvement of senior management. Accordingly, we end with recommendations for overcoming some of the most pressing challenges.
Human Communication Research, 2011
In this study, nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in New Zealand were surveyed to explore influences on adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). We sought to extend existing research by considering “institutional” influences alongside organizational and environmental features and by examining how institutional forces affect optimal use of ICTs. Findings suggest that NPOs adopting and using ICTs tended to be self-perceived leaders or those who scanned the environment and emulated leaders and tended to have organizational decisionmakers with the expertise to enable adoption and use. Furthermore, optimal fit of ICTs tended to be spurred by institutional forces if accompanied by self-perceived leadership and appropriate organizational resources. Implications for practice and theory are explored.
Euromed Journal of Business, 2008
Purpose – This study aims to analyse the driving forces that either favour or inhibit internet adoption by organisations operating in the non-profit sector. Design/methodology/approach – Following a quantitative methodological approach, a national survey was applied to a sample of 392 Portuguese non-profit organisations to empirically test the proposed conceptual model. Logistic regression, which enables to test models to predict
In Search of Utopia: An Analysis of Non-profit Webpages
Information, Communication & Society, 2007
This research explores the practical application of a widely held, utopian belief that the Internet remains a strong democratizing tool because of its inherent interactive capabilities. Through an analysis of 70 non-profit web pages, this study examines how these organizations utilize the Internet as a deliberative public sphere; an opportunity for activism; an avenue for advertising and fundraising revenue; a space for marginalized voices; an interconnected, instantaneous portal for information; and as a medium to bolster organizational accountability. This represents fundamental baseline research that is needed if the field is to build theories of Internet efficacy – particularly as it pertains to the non-profit sector.
Use of Technology in Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) for Knowledge Management
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS / Actes du congrès annuel de l'ACSI
This paper explores results of a survey that documented tools and technologies used to manage knowledge in Canadian non-profit organizations (NPOs). Findings demonstrate that NPOs, across various types of organizations, use both non-computer (e.g., print documents) and computer-based solutions to manage knowledge. Examples of tools/technologies used include donor management software, email-based systems for communication and marketing, and some specific tools relevant to their areas of operations. Cet article explore les résultats d'une enquête qui a documenté les outils et les technologies utilisés pour gérer les connaissances dans les organisations canadiennes sans but lucratif (OSBL). Les résultats démontrent que les différents types d’OSBL utilisent à la fois des solutions informatiques et non-informatiques (par exemple, des documents imprimés) pour gérer les connaissances. Les outils / technologies utilisées comprennent des logiciels de gestion des donateurs, des systèmes b...
Marketing of Non-Profit Organizations in Ict Environment
2009
Technological advances and potentials offered by modern information and communication technology have allowed traditional manual form of operations to be increasingly replaced by socalled virtual world operations. Virtual business operations are carried out on a virtual market, which has the same rules in transactions as the traditional market, however, the transactions are conducted in very different circumstances, characterized by high level of transparency, high speed of transactions, large number of participants, and lack of physical interaction in terms of exchange of goods and payment. Everybody needs to adapt to these new operating conditions, both organizations working for profit and the non-profit ones. Information and communication technology has produced a special impact and changes in marketing of those non-profit organizations that function as agencies. Such organizations effect their interactions through virtual market, with organizations or individuals who are their s...
2019
This research empirically analyzes the impact of both the Web and social media on the performance of nonprofit organizations by using 100 nonprofit organizations ranked by web traction measures, including Facebook Likes and Twitter Followers. Our findings from ANOVA and non-parametric tests demonstrate that nonprofit organizations with higher web traction have greater contributions and grants than others with lower web traction. These findings suggest that the use of the Web coupled with social media promotes better, interactive (two-way) communications with the public, as well as fundraising and that nonprofit organizations that attract more supporters on the Web and social media can increase charitable giving. Our regression analyses based on the economic model of giving that estimates the direct relationship between web traction and donations show similar results. However, the results also show that the impact of economic factors such as price and fundraising activities on charitable giving is much greater than the impact of web traction.
Community and Non-Profits on the World Wide Web
1997
The recent focus on electronic commerce on the part of researchers implicitly excludes the large body of non-profit organizations who make use of the WWW for information gathering, dissemination, transaction processing and community building. Non-profit organizations also need to utilize the latest advances in the field of electronic commerce. Furthermore, commercial enterprises need an understanding of how non-profit organizations successfully build online communities in order to achieve the returns they expect from their WWW investments. This paper describes some of the various ways that non-profit organizations are currently using the WWW. Some of the issues involved in community building are discussed and illustrated through an action research project in community building, the Eastern Shore Non-Profit Nexus.
Many descriptive studies have measured the adoption of ICTs by nonprofits. What is less understood is why this adoption takes place. This study measures the change in social media adoption by small nonprofits over a one year period after attending a social media marketing workshop. A pre-measurement of the social media tools available on their Web sites was taken prior to their participation in a social media marketing workshop. A post-measurement was taken a year later. In addition, an e-survey was administered to better understand the challenges of ICT adoption for non-large nonprofits. This study adds to the understanding of ICT adoption for small nonprofits.
The Impact of the Web and Social Media on the Performance of Nonprofit Organizations
Journal of International Technology and Information Management, 2019
This research empirically analyzes the impact of both the Web and social media on the performance of nonprofit organizations by using 100 nonprofit organizations ranked by web traction measures, including Facebook Likes and Twitter Followers. Our findings from ANOVA and non-parametric tests demonstrate that nonprofit organizations with higher web traction have greater contributions and grants than others with lower web traction. These findings suggest that the use of the Web coupled with social media promotes better, interactive (two-way) communications with the public, as well as fundraising and that nonprofit organizations that attract more supporters on the Web and social media can increase charitable giving. Our regression analyses based on the economic model of giving that estimates the direct relationship between web traction and donations show similar results. However, the results also show that the impact of economic factors such as price and fundraising activities on charit...