Working with technology - a case study of Borderless Youth Network
Author
Smetana, Rasmus Tolstrup
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-25
Pages
64
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan små og mellemstore NGO’er arbejder med digitale værktøjer i deres daglige praksis, med udgangspunkt i et casestudie af Borderless Youth Network (BYN), en dansk NGO, der hjælper unge med at blive globale og aktive medborgere. Med tre måneders deltagerobservation på kontoret og 12 semistrukturerede interviews belyser studiet, hvordan digitale løsninger former organisationspraksisser, videndeling og outreach, særligt i relation til unges engagement. Analysen er informeret af fire teoretiske perspektiver—aktør-netværksteori, boundary objects, Technology Acceptance Model og organisatorisk læring—og fokuserer på den løbende forhandling mellem teknologi, organisatoriske behov og hverdagens sociale praksisser. Centrale resultater viser, at værdifuld viden ofte er indlejret i relationer snarere end i digitale systemer; at digitale platforme understøtter tværkulturelt samarbejde på tværs af sprog og afstand; og at begrænsede ressourcer både fremmer innovation og skaber intern digital ulighed. Afhandlingen bidrager med indsigt i digitale praksisser i ressourcebegrænsede organisationer og tilbyder praktiske greb for lignende NGO’er, der navigerer i digital omstilling, samtidig med at den understreger, at formålet ikke er at måle effektivitet, men at forstå brug og betydning i hverdagen.
This thesis examines how small and medium-sized NGOs use digital tools in everyday work through a case study of Borderless Youth Network (BYN), a Danish NGO that supports young people in becoming global and active citizens. Based on three months of participant observation in the office and 12 semi-structured interviews, the study explores how digital solutions shape organizational practices, knowledge sharing, and outreach, particularly in relation to youth engagement. The analysis draws on four theoretical lenses—Actor-Network Theory, boundary objects, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Organizational Learning Theory—and frames digital transformation as an ongoing negotiation between technologies, organizational needs, and everyday social practices. Key findings show that valuable knowledge often resides in relationships rather than in digital systems; that digital platforms enable cross-cultural collaboration across language and distance; and that limited resources both spur innovation and produce internal digital inequalities. The thesis contributes to understanding digital practices in resource-constrained organizations and offers practical guidance for similar NGOs navigating digital change, emphasizing interpretation and everyday use over assessments of effectiveness.
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