It’s fascinating how often the issues we face today echo concerns I've voiced years ago. The recent article, "Nonprofits are solving 21st century problems—they need 21st century tech" [https://fortune.com/section/commentary/], truly resonates with a core principle I've long believed in: the imperative for constant innovation and adaptation.
I remember sharing thoughts with Aditi some years back in my blog, "WHO WILL OBSOLETE WHOM?" [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2015/08/who-will-obsolete-whom.html]. In it, I highlighted Theodore Levitt’s profound insight from "Marketing Myopia": "If you don't make yourself obsolete, someone else will." This isn't just a business dictum; it's a fundamental truth for any entity striving to make an impact, including our vital nonprofit organizations. They are indeed tackling complex 21st-century challenges, and to do so effectively, they absolutely need tools that are equally advanced.
This call for advanced tech in nonprofits isn't merely about efficiency; it's about survival and relevance. Just as the business process management (BPM) sector grapples with a "skills gap as it adapts AI/GenAI," as I discussed in my blog "AI is widening Skills Gap?" [http://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2024/10/ai-is-widening-skills-gap.html], nonprofits face similar hurdles. Attracting and retaining talent proficient in modern digital tools is crucial. Without this, even the most noble intentions can fall short in a rapidly evolving world.
I’ve often reflected on the need for industries to rethink their core identity, asking, "What Business Are You In?" [https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-business-are-you-in.html]. For nonprofits, this translates to recognizing that their 'business' is not just providing services, but providing mobile solutions for any and every problem their beneficiaries face. This requires embracing comprehensive digital platforms, not just basic IT infrastructure. It means moving beyond traditional methods and leveraging data, AI, and cloud computing to scale impact, just as companies like Reliance Jio have innovated to provide a complete portfolio from devices to cloud, creating disruptions in various sectors, as I noted in "Disruption: New Survival Strategy" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2019/09/disruption-new-survival-strategy.html].
The article's message also brings to mind the forward-thinking scenarios I imagined in an even older blog, "Make Yourself Obsolete" [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2013/05/make-yourself-obsolete.html]. I envisioned Sharad Nandurdikar (SIMON) [https://in.linkedin.com/in/sharad-nandurdikar-ab61b087] and Mr. Pandit https://www.linkedin.com/in/pandit using Google Glasses for instant information and decision-making in recruitment—a precursor to today's integrated digital ecosystems. The lesson Admiral Rickover taught us about mandating PERT charts for US Defense Contracts also highlights the necessity of foresight and structured planning in embracing new methodologies. Nonprofits, in their own way, must adopt this same rigorous, future-oriented approach.
Today, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant these earlier insights still are. The "Davids of the new-born Start-Ups" are indeed challenging the "aging Goliaths," and this dynamic applies to the social sector too. Nonprofits, much like any other organization seeking to navigate a complex world, must embrace adaptability and evolution to ensure robust leadership and effective solutions, a theme touched upon in "Insecure in Security Council?" [http://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2024/10/insecure-in-security-council.html]. As Alvin Toffler once said, our heads are often "filled with obseledge, obsolete knowledge." It's a powerful reminder that continuous learning and technological integration are not luxuries but necessities for all, especially for those dedicated to solving humanity’s most pressing problems.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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