In 2011 I would like see the nonprofit technology community move toward speaking in some form of more unified voice.
In 2008 I led a discussion through an NTEN Affinity Group to craft a code of conduct that nonprofit technology providers could agree on - see the results below. At the 2011 Nonprofit Technology Conference I will facilitate a discussion about what might be done to find common ground among nptech providers.
Are these principles that nonprofit technology staff, consultants and vendors can all agree on?
NonProfit Technology Professional’s Principles/Code of Conduct
We, as technology professionals serving nonprofit organizations, pledge to:
1. Do No Intentional Harm to Data or Devices Containing Data
2. Appreciate, Respect and Adapt Our Approaches
Appropriately to an Organization’s Culture,
Mission, Context and Resources
3. Focus On Solutions Appropriate in Both the Short and
Long Term to an Organization’s Culture, Mission,
Context and Resources
4. Explain/Demonstrate Technology Strategies and Tools
Using Clear, Non-Technical Language
5. Understand and Communicate the Applicable Excellent
Practices, Legal and Technical Requirements
Related to Our Work
6. Engage in Continuous Learning Practices to
Maintain Our Skills and Knowledge
7. Regularly Participate In and Share Our
Knowledge With Our Community
8. Maintain Ethical Practices and Declare Any
Conflicts of Interest
9. Provide Recommendations and Not Directives,
Communicating the Reasoning Behind those
Recommendations, Ensuring the Decision is
Always the Clients
10. If We Charge for Our Services, to be Transparent
About Product Pricing and/or Project Costs
flickr photo: Adam Foster
