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I gave a speech recently about how I think the social sector can find its own (new) ways to transform thru digital tech, not just copy tech sector or govt https://www.thinknpc.org/blog/digital-transformation-the-social-sector/
TL;DR here's a thread on what it said in case you don't have time to read 5,000 words
Can't take cue from tech sector: need its skills & products but it focuses on most profitable markets & customers (not greatest impact / ethical approaches)
Can't copy public sector / GDS: it has to focus on transactional interactions (customer with clear need for product or service) & high volume
Can't just copy non-digital social sector: too siloed by funding (do one thing well, but only that, no slack in system to connect that one thing to other things or orgs)
Follow the user's journey. Understand the experience of the person who we aim to serve, and we’ll see how we can use technology to help best. Simple idea, complicated consequences
Can't capacity build our way to digital transformation. Capacity gaps are a design feature, not an accidental flaw.
We work on issues & opportunities that aren't (yet
) a priority in society. We can't have enough money to do the job properly - that's the deal.
We work on issues & opportunities that aren't (yet
) a priority in society. We can't have enough money to do the job properly - that's the deal.
Can't do this on our own, but social sector fundamentally competitive, and its financing is anti-collaborative.
The way we are funded is (almost without exception) on basis that we provide one true solution to any social issue or problem. We don't. We're not special snowflakes
The way we are funded is (almost without exception) on basis that we provide one true solution to any social issue or problem. We don't. We're not special snowflakes
But we have tools to do differently. Digital and data can be copied, and shared, and replicated, and rebuilt at no or minimal cost.
So what? We're working on new ways: Digital Collective Impact - designing tech solutions with people we exist to serve & orgs that serve them. First practical project My Best Life https://labs.thinknpc.org/category/my-best-life/
We're dreaming about Open Impact, along with other pioneers like @pwrd_by_data & @360Giving: opening up everything from user research to innovation, software to data standards. Watch this space http://labs.thinknpc.org for @NPCthinks open innovation pipeline
We've helped unlock government admin data through Justice Data Lab https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/justice-data-lab; more are on the way. https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/data-labs-update/
We all need to work together to power this revolution. Which is HARD because we're also all linked to our organisations. But a bunch of us believe we have to, and we can, outcollaborate the competition.
In the words of Elbow: "Cause everybody owns the great ideas And it feels like there's a big one round the corner"
Just a few of the brilliant ppl helping shape new ways to do this & inspiring me: @intersticia @chiefchimpanzee @FranIndigo @mlenc @CassieRobinson @nickstanhope @jaggeree @rufflemuffin @meansandrew
