This exploratory qualitative research examines the role of digital platforms like a responsive mobile website in non-profit and charitable sector including social. The community is acknowledged by its relationships to an organization and rises in reaction to what an organization does or says (J. E. Grunig et al., 1992; Rawlins, 2006). Thus, when considering non-profit charity work, various communities must be identified that engage with, affected by, and have an emotional impact on the organization. In practical, non-profit segments have various publics that they engage with and reply to, including donors, volunteers, clients and the community at large (Waters et al., 2011). Wilson (2000), in his theory, identifies three theoretical kinds of people involved in strategies of communication: key people, intervening people, and influential. Key people are those whose contribution and support are fundamental to achieving an institution’s goals (Wilson, 2000). Intervening people pass the info along and play a role as disseminators of content and opinion leaders. The success of many charity calls is dogged by the power of interactions with intervening people (Rawlins, 2006). The third one, Influential, affect the feat of communiqué exertions and can also support the exertions of the institute or work contrary to them.
Political, social, cultural and technological scenarios are continually in flux, and public relations philosophy and practice need innovative ways to hypothesize the relationship between businesses and public. Through a case study of the Bahar-E-Madina, this research will examine how a digital platform like a responsive mobile website can provide a platform for a charity organization to magnify its calls and manage member relationships, and in return how public and members can response and work to convey onwards the message of the institution. Bahar-E-Madina is chosen for this study because it is a newly established UK based charity, which is operating in the UK. The organization has emerged from grassroots exertions and provides support internationally (focus Kashmir and Pakistan). Further focus will be on other small and large charities including Muslim charities such as Islamic relief, Muslim Hands, Ummah Welfare Trust, KIRF and KORT (both small charities focusing on Kashmir).
Research Aim:
This research will be analysing the role of digital platforms such as a responsive mobile website for Bahar-E-Madina to raise its platform strategically.
Research Objectives:
This research aims to contribute to understandings of online strategies used to promote and empower the non-profit organizations and outreach for social change, incorporating the following objectives:
• The main objective will be guiding this research is an exploration of how charitable institutions are using its digital platform strategically in ways that facilitate engagement with members and which empower the community to carry out the work of the organization.
• This case study will argue that digital platforms, particularly mobile websites, are influential platforms for non-profit organizations, which can function as a device of amplification of members’ interaction and outreach when working with specific communities.
• This research will engulf the before and after effects of having digital platforms on charitable institutions.
• Furthermore, the analysis will also incorporate views of the public who have been tied up with the charitable organisation on how they feel about raising awareness through digital media.
Literature Review:
The fierce competition and high demand for technology highlights innovation as being a key weapon in competitive markets (Davila et al, 2012). From this, it can be seen that it is necessary for a company to meet the increasing demands and to be at a steady position with competition in order to grow and stay in business.
One of the key ways for a company to hold firm with competition and use modern technology for survival is adopting the business model innovation. This is the delivering of existing products produced by existing technologies within existing markets (Girotra and Netessine, 2014) in order to boost business value. George and Bock (2011), further highlight that the business model innovation is particularly important for new organisations as it guides their competitive position, thus, influencing the likelihood of survival. From this, it can be understood that for Bahar-e-Madina to keep competitive and survive amongst both small and large charities, they must adapt to the business model innovation.
Introducing the responsive mobile website will mean that existing content will be made available to members with existing technology. According to Roger’s theory of innovation, Bahar-e-Madina would fit into the segment of ‘Early adaptors’, leaping in when benefits start to become apparent (Rogers, 2003). This is due to them innovating in the form of introducing a responsive mobile website to overcome the current issues in regards to their online presence. Bahar-e-Madina can be characterised under this segment, as they will leap into the innovation already knowing the benefits of accommodating the mobile market, particularly, through a mobile website.
Moreover, more and more people are joining the growing market of being a mobile user. Research highlights that mobile users are consistently increasing year on year; 2014 being a year where it is seen that mobile users would exceed the number of desktop and laptop users (Minato, 2012). The high upturn in users indicates the significance and opportunities behind adapting online mobile presence. Thus, it could be understood that digital existance is key for both, meeting the demand and building relationships for non-profit sector.
Research Questions:
Therefore, based on the initial literature review, the following research questions will conduct and will be achieved through various methods of data collection to complete the study.
Q1: How can Bahar-E-Madina utilize digital media?
Q2: What can people do on organizationally created responsive mobile website?
The nature of the project being undertaken requires a full and enhanced understanding of views and opinions supporting the requirement of innovative technologies for Bahar-e-Madina. Therefore, it is necessary to gather information that is reliable, accurate and takes into account the existing members of Bahar-e-Madina and their need for the mobile website. From the purpose of research, it was evident that an in-depth analysis was a requirement in order to gather useful and relevant information. Hence, the qualitative research method was selected in order to explore a subject in as a real manner as possible (Saunders, 2012).
Similarly, due to the type of research the qualitative research interviews method (semi-structured interviews) will be chosen as it can be seen as the most suitable and appropriate method. Seidman (2013), highlights that when trying to gather an in-depth analysis on specific experiences this method becomes crucial as the interviews give a full description and insight from the experience of the respondents, hence, making the method key in order to gain in-depth answers. Using these interview method appropriate questions will be designed in order to address the required areas and aim to consider gaps in the secondary research. The semi-structured interviews will allow flexibility when they are conducted due to allowing open-ended questions for open discussion. This in turn can allow such information to be obtained which was not originally intended (Seidman, 2013).
Barnet (2002), argues that using sampling makes possible a higher overall accuracy then a census. Hence, sampling techniques will be implemented when conducting research. This is so that the focus can be on fewer people to collect more in-depth information and then take advantage of sampling techniques to generalise the data for the whole population.
Research Limitations:
Limitations for this research include:
• The ambiguous answers that will be obtained through semi- structured interviews. The meanings will be expressed through words of the respondents can be misinterpreted and mislead the research findings.
• Undertaking the process of permitting the interviewee to answer outside the set question will result in confusing and irrelevant answers.
• Focus will be on fewer people to collect more in-depth information and then generalise the data that may not give in-depth results.