Architecting for Good: Making a Social Impact

Architecture disciplines in general, and business architecture in particular, tend to be viewed as only applying to large, private and public sector institutions as opposed to non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social entrepreneurs, and other organizations seeking to make a social impact. While approaches vary based on the organization involved and its corresponding mission, architecture delivers value to organizations seeking to directly or indirectly contribute to the social good. Non-profits, NGOs, and other organizations seeking to improve people’s lives and the environment in which they live face many of the challenges shared by the private sector and government. While mission-driven versus profit-driven, organizations seeking to make a difference in the world nevertheless face a wide variety of opportunities and challenges that must be addressed. Join William Ulrich and his guest Whynde Kuehn as they discuss ways in which formal business disciplines can be applied to maximize the ability of mission-driven organizations to contribute more effectively to the global good. The discussion will focus on the need for architecture in mission-driven organizations, how approaches differ for mission-driven versus profit-driven organizations, examples of architecting for good in practice, and how qualified and inclined individuals can contribute in positive ways to architecting for good.