Fields of Action to Advance the Digital Transformation of NPOs : Development of a Framework

Technology-based business improvements characterize the so-called digital transformation (DT). For non-profit organizations (NPOs), with their unique value creation structure and specific preconditions in terms of staff and resources, keeping up with the DT is challenging. Still, opportunities for the DT are unknown. Thus far, there are no comprehensive guidelines for DT strategy development in NPOs. Both digital value creation and digitally supported communication with customers can lead to competitive advantages. Therefore, NPO decision-makers must understand the opportunities and the challenges of DT. In our research approach, we aim to answer the research question: What are the fields of action for the digital transformation in NPOs? Following a grounded theory approach, we have developed a theoretical framework including fields of action and guidance for the strategic advancement of DT in NPOs. The results show that NPOs need to be aware of their digital communications channels with volunteer staff, customers and donors. A clear DT vision and new roles help NPOs meet this challenge

Trends of Chlorinated Organic Contaminants in Great Lakes Trout and Walleye from 1970 to 1998

Levels of chlorinated organic contaminants in predator fish have been monitored annually in each of the Great Lakes since the 1970s. This article updates earlier reports with data from 1991 to 1998 for lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) and (Lake Erie only) walleye ( Sander vitreus ) to provide a record that now extends nearly 30 years. Whole fish were analyzed for a number of industrial contaminants and pesticides, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), dieldrin, toxaphene, and mirex, and contaminant trends were quantified using multicompartment models. As in the past, fish from Lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Huron have the highest levels of PCBs, DDT, and dieldrin; Superior has the highest levels of toxaphene; and Ontario has the highest levels of mirex. In the period after curtailment of chemical use, concentrations rapidly decreased, represented by relatively short half-lives from approximately 1 to 9 years. Although trends depend on both the contaminant and the lake, in many cases the rate of decline has been decreasing, and concentrations are gradually approaching an irreducible concentration. For dioxin-like PCBs, levels have not been decreasing during the most recent 5-year period (1994 to 1998). In some cases, the year-to-year variation in contaminant levels is large, mainly because of food-web dynamics. Although this variation sometimes obscures long-term trends, the general pattern of a rapid decrease followed by slowing or leveling-off of the downward trend seems consistent across the Great Lakes, and future improvements of the magnitude seen in the 1970s and early 1980s likely will take much longer.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48086/1/244_2005_Article_1007.pd