Last updated on Mar 21, 2024

You're a community organizer. How can you use technology to enhance problem solving?

As a community organizer, you know how important it is to identify and address the issues that affect your community. But how can you use technology to enhance your problem-solving skills and make your work more effective and efficient? In this article, we'll explore some of the ways that technology can help you with different stages of the problem-solving process, from defining the problem to implementing and evaluating the solution.

1 Define the problem

One of the first steps in problem-solving is to clearly define the problem that you want to solve. Technology can help you with this by providing you with data and information that can help you understand the root causes, the scope, and the impact of the problem. For example, you can use online surveys, social media, or mapping tools to gather feedback and insights from your community members, stakeholders, and partners. You can also use online databases, reports, or articles to research the background and context of the problem and compare it with similar situations in other communities.

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Renaldo Susilo

Strategy-consultant | Advocate of sustainability to social change.
Technology can help your organization identify the challenges that happen. Platforms like Google Slides can help you create an issue tree that can be done in collaboration with your partners or social media to gather information for your sentiment analysis.
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2 Generate ideas

Once you have defined the problem, you need to generate ideas for possible solutions. Technology can help you with this by facilitating brainstorming and collaboration among your team and your community. For example, you can use online platforms, such as Google Docs, Miro, or Padlet, to create and share documents, boards, or sticky notes where you can write down, organize, and refine your ideas. You can also use online tools, such as Zoom, Skype, or Slack, to communicate and discuss your ideas with your team and your community in real time or asynchronously.

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3 Choose a solution

After generating ideas, you need to choose a solution that best fits your problem and your resources. Technology can help you with this by helping you analyze and compare the pros and cons of each idea. For example, you can use online tools, such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Airtable, to create and manage spreadsheets, charts, or tables where you can calculate and visualize the costs, benefits, risks, and feasibility of each idea. You can also use online tools, such as SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or Typeform, to collect and analyze feedback and opinions from your team and your community on the different ideas.

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4 Implement the solution

Once you have chosen a solution, you need to implement it in your community. Technology can help you with this by helping you plan and execute the actions and tasks required for the solution. For example, you can use online tools, such as Trello, Asana, or Basecamp, to create and track project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables. You can also use online tools, such as Eventbrite, Mailchimp, or Canva, to create and promote events, newsletters, or flyers that can help you mobilize and engage your community around the solution.

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5 Evaluate the solution

Finally, you need to evaluate the solution and its outcomes in your community. Technology can help you with this by helping you measure and report the results and impacts of the solution. For example, you can use online tools, such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, or Twitter Analytics, to monitor and analyze the online reach and engagement of your solution. You can also use online tools, such as Qualtrics, Kobo Toolbox, or ODK, to create and conduct surveys, interviews, or observations that can help you assess the offline satisfaction and behavior change of your community members.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Echo Alexzander

Managing Consultant, Guidehouse - Epic EHR, AI, Project Management, and beyond!
In my experience so much of the community work that myself and others are doing is in a volunteer capacity. What that means is that we may not be skilled in the specific needs of each problem that arises, but we are passionate about being a part of the solution. That means I am often spreading the message of what our needs are to others and recruiting in specific talents, professionals, or others who can lend a hand and meet a specific need. Sometimes that is something targeted like a local print shop that can run off materials we need, othertimes that may just be more general volunteers needed for a painting project. Be creative and resourceful and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish even without a large budget or team.
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You're a community organizer. How can you use technology to enhance problem solving?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the problem

2 Generate ideas

3 Choose a solution

4 Implement the solution

5 Evaluate the solution

6 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

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You're a community organizer. How can you use technology to enhance problem solving?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the problem

2 Generate ideas

3 Choose a solution

4 Implement the solution

5 Evaluate the solution

6 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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