"The next wave of disruptive technology has arrived; it is the Age of Automation. The defining technologies for this new era include robots, chatbots, artificial intelligence, machine learning, conversational interfaces, cyborgs, and other smart devices. These technologies are increasingly becoming ... the interface between organisations and humans. The risks and benefits for civil society organisations boils down to automation versus augmentation. Automation is where robots and algorithms take over and destroy humanity. Augmentation is more optimistic and suggests that artificial intelligence (A.I.) will help civil society organisations amplify their work to better serve stakeholders and solve significant social change problems. Civil society organisations should not view these technologies as a smackdown between flesh and code, but as a partnership to better address development needs. Civil society can play a key role in addressing the risks posed by A.I., especially for marginalized people and communities who will feel the brunt of any negative impact. However, to reap the benefits for civil society, design and implementation must have a human-centered orientation, scale beyond the innovation or data units to entire enterprise and maintain the highest ethical standards to avoid devastating unintended consequences." (Abstract) more

"This groundbreaking resource offers a set of guiding principles to help nonprofit leaders navigate the transition from top-down organizations to a networked approach enabled by technology. The book contains specific strategies for implementation and secrets to success from nonprofits who have used ... new social media tools effectively themselves. It also offers effective exercises and how-to's for implementation. A key element of this book is interviews with current nonprofit managers who have learned how to jump into the social media fray without a net and thrived because of it." (Publisher description) more

"The Routledge Handbook of Family Communication offers a comprehensive exploration and discussion of current research and theory on family interaction. Integrating the varying perspectives and issues addressed by family researchers, theorists, and practitioners, this volume offers a unique and timel ... y view of family interaction and family relationships. With a synthesis of research on issues key to understanding family interaction, as well as an analysis of many theoretical and methodological choices made by researchers studying family communication, Family Communication serves to advance the field by reframing old questions and stimulating new ones. The contents are comprised of chapters covering: zheoretical and methodological issues influencing current conceptions of family; research and theory centering around the family life course; communication occurring in a variety of family forms; individual family members and their relationships; dynamic communication processes taking place in families; family communication embedded in social, cultural, and physical contexts." (Publisher description) more