How Technology Empowers Mission-Driven Organizations

How Technology Empowers Mission-Driven Organizations

by ​Daniel Elacqua, MBA, PMP

Every organization relies on technology to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and manage the myriad of tasks. The benefits to leveraging technology well is clear within organizations of every size and scope. 

But the core function of technological systems is rooted in something much bigger. 

Technology is not just a set of tools that allow organizations to operate and function efficiently. It is a pathway that helps an organization drive its mission forward. The ultimate goal for an organization’s technological solutions is empowerment.

Technology empowers organizations and their leaders to achieve their mission.

Mission driven organizations  are run by people who feel deeply connected to their cause. Everything they do, from daily operational tasks to strategically determining long term plans to achieve goals, is tied to the heart of the organization. 

The mission is what matters most.

If technology is not aligned closely with the goals of the organization, and the processes used to achieve those goals,  the people are prevented from making forward progress.

Technology must be viewed from the perspective of empowerment to maximize outcomes. The true value of technology lies not just in the tools themselves but in how they are used to extend the reach and impact of every individual inside the organization.

Outcomes Rooted in Empowerment

Technology can empower associations in distinct, results-based ways when it is intentionally designed around empowerment. Some examples include:
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• Workflow Optimization: Clunky management systems or poorly chosen software solutions create friction within workflows. The people using these misaligned tools spend more time, energy, and expense than necessary completing tasks…time, energy and expense that could be focused on the big picture mission.  
• Enhanced Data Management: Your decisions are only as good as the data you are basing them on. Organizations must have secure, clear, and accessible data to make strategic decisions that allow growth, scale, and thus, greater impact on the membership they serve. 
• Improved Access and Communication: Technology opens the doors of communication and access to all stakeholders within an organization. Greater accessibility to association members, nonprofit donors, and the community at large strengthens collaboration and thus, increases mission effectiveness. 

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Understanding that the role of technology is to empower individuals is just the start. As an organizational leader, how do you ensure that your tech is aligned with your mission? 

Mission-Aligned Technological Design

Technological solutions must be strategically designed with your mission in mind. Further, they must be customized to fit the unique needs and goals of your specific organization. 
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As the leader of a mission-driven organization, your expertise likely does not lie in technological systems design and implementation.  You need an IT team that not only understands the unique challenges faced by associations and nonprofits in general, but one that will take the time to get to know your organization’s needs specifically. 

Your organization has goals, strengths, challenges, and circumstances that are uniquely yours. You need a partner who will listen, learn, and leverage solutions that are tailored to your particular organization; a partner who places a premium on empowering the people involved in achieving your mission. 

Here are some things to look for when choosing an IT team that puts people empowerment at the center of technological infrastructure design and implementation.
 

• Inquisitive: In order to design solutions around your needs, your IT team needs to fully understand what your organization hopes to achieve and what obstacles stand in the way of reaching your goals. This is only possible with an investment of time and genuine curiosity on the part of your IT team about those unique factors. 
• Vendor Agnostic: Far too frequently, IT consultants’ loyalties lie with a particular software brand or tech stack, not with your organization. Be sure your IT team is solving your problems with solutions that work for you, not that provide them a commission. 
• Strategic: When an urgent need arises that can be fixed by tech, it can be tempting to simply fix that one problem without looking into the future. This is detrimental to the mission long term. Your IT team should be focused not only on solving pressing issues, but on how your needs may evolve as you grow. They need to be strategic. 
• Empathetic: Tech has the ability to make work easier, more efficient, and more cost effective. When the wrong infrastructure is in place, tech can create frustration, roadblocks, and expenses that reduce your impact. With the wrong IT team in place, leaders can feel unheard, confused, and hindered. Choose an IT team who truly understands where you are coming from and has care and concern for helping you achieve your goals. 

Technology solves specific problems for organizations. Operational efficiencies, workflow optimization, stakeholder communication, and data management are concrete outcomes that are measurable and thus, a vital driver behind systems design and implementation.

However, it’s crucial that the people, mission, and heart of an organization are at the center of any such infrastructure. It bears repeating: the true value of technology lies not just in the tools themselves but in how they are used to extend the reach and impact of every individual inside the organization.

The power of technology lies in empowerment. 
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Are you an organizational leader who wants to leverage technology to drive your mission forward? We are committed to helping you reach your goals. Contact us today to learn how our experts can help.