This week’s readings bluntly reveal accountability as a complex endeavor. Due to various stakeholders’ (competing) interests, combined with resource scarcity, nonprofit organizations face difficulty in this elusive accountability effort while attempting to fulfill missions. Do we not hear the concepts of capacity and resource limitations repeatedly in our nonprofit studies? Is there an elixir for these salient issues? What can be done? I do not believe that I would be alone in arguing that inexpensive and effective remedies are needed. After spending a few weeks discussing the transformative effects of social media, I question how nonprofits may employ social media in addressing accountability. With the reluctance of various traditional organizations to delve into the modern world, difficulty may lay ahead. However, for innovative and flexible organizations, will social media play multiple roles? Improved networking and accountability? I believe so. What are your thoughts?
[Author’s note: I approve the shortened length of this post. Easier to write and easier to read. Agreed?]
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYour post is consistent with the direction I think accountability and effectiveness are heading. Consider how you would apply social media to assess accountability or effectiveness. In other words you suggest the connection, but I'd like to hear how you think social media will make a difference. Consider, for example, whether nonprofit human service organizations can create more direct feedback mechanisms for expressing satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services they receive.