Developing a healthy internet culture
The success of your internet plan will rely to a large extent on whether there is a healthy internet culture within the organisation. If staff and management do not fully embrace the use of the internet as you have planned, no matter how fast the internet connection or how good the website, the long-term success of your organisation’s involvement in online activities is likely to be limited. Developing a healthy internet culture is no easier for small nonprofits just because they have no or few staff. They have their challenges here too.
A healthy online culture in any sized organisation would have all of these characteristics:
- The internet is embraced as much as practical as a way of conducting everyday business in the organisation.
- Staff are encouraged to suggest and try new ways of using the web or email.
- Staff are competent and keen users of the internet and of their organisation's website.
- The website is not seen as outside your core business but part of it and supportive of it.
- Staff feel they have input into the website.
- There is a commitment to continual improvement of your online activities.
To achieve a healthy internet culture you need to ensure that staff, volunteers, board members and key partners are part of the internet planning process so that they have ownership of the plan and any changes it brings in their working day. Training in the use of the website, email and any other internet-related technologies should be planned so that staff and volunteers are not afraid to use the technology and can use it well.
True story
Management needs to know there’s an issue
Some people don't realise they don't have the skills, and I have found that managers and management committees are no different, thinking that everything's OK when in fact they are way behind. It’s important to be able to tell your manager or committee that your organisation needs IT training.
Christine Eastman, Western Sydney Community Forum
Tip
Don’t outsource your responsibilities
Organisations shouldn't abrogate responsibility to developers/designers or the in-house web guru. All staff should be involved in the development and upkeep of content on a website (or at least the stuff that relates to their work). This can have the following benefits:
- Content is up to date and consistent with other output.
- Staff act as audience and bug checkers for the site (because they use it).
- The site continually improves as a result of this.
- Staff suggestions guide the development of the site.
- The relationship between the business aims and the site aims continue to improve.
Phillip Byrne, Tenants Union of NSW