The Dynamics of Technology for Social Change: Understanding the Factors that Influence Results: Lessons Learned from the Field

By Jonathan Peizer

Book Overview

If technology leads to such obvious efficiency and productivity in the private sector, why not deploy it just as easily to strengthen civil society and solve the world's social ills?

Author Jonathan Peizer effectively answers this question in the innovative The Dynamics of Technology for Social Change. Peizer brings over twenty years of experience in implementing successful projects that have affected millions of lives globally. Working through all the important factors that affect successful implementations, Peizer points out what nonprofit organizations, foundations, social entrepreneurs, and governments can do to better ensure successful projects. The Dynamics of Technology for Social Change covers a diverse field of topics, including: Sector dependencies, collaboration dynamics, and information and communication technology (ICT) challenges Nonprofit capacity issues and promising approaches Balancing the profit and value motive Implementation strategies Marketing and promotion strategies

The Dynamics of Technology for Social Change is a useful resource for anyone interested in implementing successful social sector projects with and without primary technology components. It easily explains the underlying dynamics that affect all undertakings in the social sector.

'After e-commerce and e-government, Jonathan Peizer provides a thoughtful first-hand account of managing information technology for social change in the philanthropic sector that fills the gap between mere speculation and war stories with a serious attempt to think through the implications of the IT revolution for the 'third sector' that is both well-grounded and systematic and sure to be seminal."
-Jon W. Anderson, Chair, Anthropology Department, Catholic University of America

'What makes this book so valuable is.Peizer's.ability to distill his vast experience into a series of principles and practical guidance for developing an effective IT strategy."
-Chris Coward, Director, Center for Internet Studies, University of Washington

'Peizer shares his considerable global experience and ICT expertise in a highly readable, illuminating book. A must read "
-Stefaan Verhulst, Chief of Research, Markle Foundation

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595372740
• ISBN13: 9780595372744
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Essential reading for the tech social entrepreneur

As a long-term leader in the field of social applications of information technology, I want to strongly recommend Jonathan Peizer's new book, THE DYNAMICS OF TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. IT in the social sector is exploding, and yet many projects are not as successful as they could be. Jonathan has incredible learning and perspective to share from being at the center of this field over the last 15 years through his vantage point at George Soros' Open Society Institute. This book is especially useful for practitioners. Quite often, we bumble about trying to find the best way to make things happen. It's rare to find writings that immediately speak to your experiences, but from a more thoughtful and analytical viewpoint. It often explains why certain initiatives failed and others succeeded. I had that kind of "aha!" moment when I first read some of Jonathan's essays years ago, and this book is a platform for expanding on these crucial topics. The best example of these insights is the "Trusted Source Relationship" concept. In the book, JP explains why traditional marketing and sales have limited effectiveness in the social sector, and why trust is the most critical asset in effective technology implementations. However, the book is full of practical and realistic observations and recommendations. If you are planning on using IT to save the world, reading this book will greatly enhance your odds of success!

Really Insightful

My work was helped by the lessons this book taught me. It helped me better appreciate the issues around working with IT for social good. Actually, it was kind of like deja vu.... I manage a corporate social responsibility program and the book described very similar issues I had been having with nonprofit, philanthropic and corporate partners I was trying to cooperate with. It really helped me understand their perspective better, placing me in their shoes. Fortunately, the book didn't just describe the problems, but offered strategies to resolve them too. If you work with technology to solve social issues, this book is an important read. It helped me at least, anyway.

A Must Read for those Still Interested in Hotwiring the World for a Brighter Future

Mr. Peizer's years of experience with both technology and philanthropy have offered up enough expasperation to guarantee his enlightement. Do NOT try and save the world with technology until you have finished this book. Greg Baldwin VolunteerMatch