Social change organizations and technology vendors need to find common ground in terms of pricing for software and services. Organizations require access to accurate information on what’s possible, and what they can reasonably expect to pay considering their budgetary constraints.

Conclusions

• There is a knowledge gap within the social change sector concerning the market realities of software development and services. Users tend to expect technology vendors to provide around the clock support and intensive customization at below market value. This expectation makes it extremely difficult for vendors to serve these organizations at their price point.
• Users need a more accurate framework for understanding what they should expect to pay for services. Providing an accurate pricing framework will also decrease the chance of vendors overcharging organizations for inadequate services.

Recommendations

• Initiate an online Consumer’s Report for technology services, which aggregates user-generated case studies, in addition to providing industry standard pricing guidelines. This online resource could provide a valuable baseline for organizers to understand what is and is not possible within their budget constraints.

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