Introduction

The recent NNIC survey was conducted by the CISA-led NNIC consultation consortium, in association with the Not-For-Profit Network, and John Sheridan of Digital Business Insights.

• Title: Not for Profit e-business Report, December 2006
• Author: John Sheridan of Digital Business Insights

• Email: johnsh12@bigpond.net.au

• Web: http://www.communit.info/Joomla/images/Uploaded_Documents/Nonprofit%20e-business%20report.pdf

I am looking to the Ubuntu community to help address the issues raise in and by the report, in a way that is useful and productive.

The report predominantly lists proprietary software solutions, and I believe that the Ubunutu and the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community can contribute by creating, modifying, and marketing the software that we know and love to meet this sectors needs.

Introduction to the report

The 125 page report was produced from a survey of 878 Not for Profit organisations in August and September 2006. It is a useful snapshot of the Not-for-profit" sector in Australia, and was carried out by the the CISA-led NNIC consultation consortium, in association with the Not-For-Profit Network, and John Sheridan of Digital Business Insights.

The aim was to demonstrate that productivity benefits can be found in all organisations, regardless of industry type and size. The report uses the survey resource material to supplement a number of case studies about the successful use of software products in a number of nonprofit and small business contexts.

From the reports introduction:

• "Recent Australian Government productivity studies show that any use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) delivers productivity benefits and improves business performance. Benefits are - informational, strategic, transformational and transactional."

and, when describing the 'not-for-profit sector'

• "The not-for-profit sector in Australia includes over 700,000 not-for-profit organisations, 100,000 incorporated associations and 10,000 companies limited by guarantee. The sector can be broadly divided into public-serving or member-serving organisations. Public serving organisations typically deliver health, education or community services. Member serving organisations exist for the benefit of their members, in the areas of sport and recreation and common interest. Interest organisations include peak bodies, religious organisations, political parties, lobby groups and unions and professional and business associations. Not-for-profit organisations are increasingly adopting and using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve their productivity, service delivery and enhance the many ways they interact with government, businesses and the community. The value of ICT to an organisation varies depending on the organisation size, type, location and services delivered. Some business processes are common to all not-for-profits and some are specific to public serving or member serving organisations."

ICT is further divided into the following categories:

• Serving public and members
  • Accounting, database, security, backup/storage, telecommunication, internet, website, compliance, ordering, buying,
  Public serving
  • Reporting, tenders, volunteers, rostering, client management
  Member serving
  • Fundraising, member management, collaboration

Categories of software were also created depending on what the relationship the business activity fell under

• Internal
  • ICT enhances various internal administrative business activities for the not-for-profit sector - accounting, payroll, records and information (database), rostering, internal communication and so on.
    • Accounting - MYOB, Quickbooks, Arrow, Attache, SAP etc
    • Database - Access, Excel, SQL, Filemaker etc
    • Rostering - None, Excel

    • Security - Norton, AVG, NetboxBlue etc

    • Backup/Storage - Hard Drive, NAS, SAN, DVD, CD, Tape
    • Intranet - web developer
  Customer
  • Customer relationships will vary depending on the type of not-for-profit organisation. ICT can enhance communication through telephone, SMS, email, email newsletter and web site, and also help with the active management of relationships through client and customer relationship software.
    • Phone - Telstra, Optus, Vodaphone etc
    • Internet - Telstra, Optus, TPG, Pacific Internet etc
    • VoIP - Skype, Asterisk, Avaya, Cisco etc
    • Website - web developer, Sauce Software
    • CRM - MS CRM, IMIS, ACT, SDG, Access, Outlook etc

    • Client Management - CareManager, Pivotol, Tectura, XaptCare, QuickKids etc

  Supplier
  • Supplier relationships will also vary depending on the type of organisation. For public serving organisations funded by government, there is an ongoing cycle of tendering for funding and reporting on services delivered. Member-serving organisations manage member fees. Both types of organisations may raise funds and sign up and manage volunteers. All organisations may buy general goods and services. ICT can support all these activities through fundraising software, telemarketing, Government tender and reporting portals, and general supplier websites and portals.
    • Reporting - Excel, Datacare, Arrow
    • Volunteers - Outlook, Vision6 etc
    • Fundraising - ThankQ, Donor Management, Open Alms etc
    • Ordering/Buying - Supply/Buy website, portal
  Competitor
  • All public serving organisations compete for funding. Members-serving organisations compete for members. The internet provides a simple, quick research platform for competitive intelligence gathering as well as a research resource for proposals and reports.
    • Tenders - Government portal
    • Research - Web browser
  Complementary
  • Not-for-profit organisations often collaborate in service delivery, lobbying, promotion and education. ICT provides a number of collaborative platforms including weblogs, wikis and portals.

    • Information portal - InfoXchange, Our Community, DCITA, Ovosuite etc

Report Contents

  Telecommunications services and PABX
    Voice over Internet Protocol - VoIP
  Computers and software
    Software satisfaction and concerns
    Accounting software
    Client management software
    Membership/CRM software
    Fundraising software
    Database software
    Data storage system
  Internet connection, reliability and security
    Internet use
    Connection reliability
    Security measures
  Technology adoption rating
    Digital camera use
  Useful web sites
  Web sites and web collaboration
  Technical support and advice
  New technology and best practice
  Turnover, future aims, IT objectives and IT spend
  Overall use of ICT
  For more information about ICT resources and solutions
  The e-journey