{"id":5236,"date":"2015-12-14T14:44:54","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T19:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/?p=5236"},"modified":"2015-12-14T14:44:54","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T19:44:54","slug":"do-associations-really-get-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/do-associations-really-get-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Associations Really Get Technology?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hank<\/a>
Hank Berkowitz, Association Adviser<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yes, according to our expert panel and the top tech stories of 2015 (with some caveats).<\/em><\/p>\n

There are two things you can count on this time of year: One, tech will be at the center of the last-minute holiday shopping blitz; and two, many of the latest tech tools and gadgets will be on the wish lists of those who influence association capital budgets. Whether you think 2015 was a good year, a bad year, or a ho-hum year, it\u2019s hard to ignore the pronounced changes that technology and innovation have had on our lives at home, at work and on the road.<\/p>\n

Wait a minute. Aren\u2019t technology and innovation the same thing? <\/em>Not necessarily, according to many of the association thought leaders we checked in with.<\/p>\n

\"Tweetables\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t confuse technology with innovation and vice versa.\u00a0\"RealLilTweetables\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You may have cool gadgets, apps and tools, but are you using them correctly to meet member needs?\u00a0\"RealLilTweetables\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As the world becomes more competitive, associations must demonstrate the value of membership.\u00a0\"RealLilTweetables\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Our most popular tech stories of 2015 may surprise you.\u00a0\"RealLilTweetables\"<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rita Chen Fujisawa<\/strong>, COO of the California Association of Health Facilities<\/a>,\u00a0once told me that technology is not necessarily innovation, and vice versa. \u201cInnovation could be a new process or approach to solving a problem that we want to reward, not necessarily technology. Also, developing an app isn\u2019t innovative per se, unless it\u2019s in an industry that\u2019s not very tech savvy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tom Hood, <\/strong>CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs<\/a>, agreed that \u2018technology\u2019 and \u2018innovation\u2019 shouldn\u2019t be used interchangeably. \u201dTechnology is what it is, while innovation is a mindset and a process to bring new ways of serving members and differentiating your association from other offerings in the market.\u201d Hood also said we tend to confuse innovation with invention. Unlike an invention, which is a patentable new product or service, Hood said innovation is about \u201ccreating new value in anticipation of future industry and customer\/member trends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jodi Ray, <\/strong>account manager for Blue Sky Broadcast<\/a>, said that innovation is about finding the right way to make use of the right technology.\u00a0\u201cAssociations have many different technologies at their fingertips.\u00a0What\u2019s important is how they use it. Is it really meeting a member need, or streamlining an administrative process, or is it just cool to have?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fara Francis, <\/strong>chief information officer of The Associated General Contractors of America<\/a>, believes technology and innovation are separate concepts, but often work hand in hand. \u201cAt times technology could be quite innovative. Other times an innovative idea needs the technology to bring it to life. The smartphone is an example of innovation and<\/em> technology. While the idea of creating a smartphone was indeed an innovative one, the application of technology was central to its success,\u201d said Francis.<\/p>\n

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Association Adviser<\/em>\u2019s Top Tech Stories of 2015<\/strong><\/h4>\n