You can’t fix a broken business model with better software. But that’s what many associations are trying to do—layering tools onto outdated thinking and calling it transformation. 

If your integrated digital strategy is a bullet point on your strategic plan—or worse, something the IT team handles while the rest of the organization “focuses on the mission”—you’ve already lost ground. 

Because here’s the truth: Digital strategy is the mission now. 

Why Are So Many Associations Still Wingin’ It? 

In a recent .orgSource survey of 130 association executives, 63% admitted their organizations don’t have a formal digital strategy. 

Yes, most leaders say digital is important. Yes, they believe AI will change the game. But most are still stuck in reactive mode—bolting tech onto legacy operations without rethinking the structure, culture, or leadership needed to support it. 

That’s not transformation. That’s delay in disguise. 

Are Your Systems Connected—or Just Coexisting? 

Here’s a hard question: If your AMS, LMS, and CMS are technically in place—but your departments aren’t talking, your data is siloed, and your member experience is clunky—what do you really have?  

You have fragmentation. You have noise. True digital strategy goes way beyond platforms. It’s about how people, process, and technology work together to create value. It’s a living roadmap, not a static plan. 

At .orgSource, we see this all the time: 

  • Teams relying on PDFs instead of shared dashboards 
  • Department heads making decisions in silos 
  • Leaders still building their year around a conference instead of member behaviors 

If that’s your reality, you’re not alone. But you can’t afford to stay there. 

What Does Commitment to an Integrated Digital Strategy Actually Look Like? 

Digital commitment means: 

  • Leadership owns it, not just IT 
  • Strategy is integrated across departments, not tacked on 
  • Data drives decisions, not politics or assumptions 
  • Teams are empowered to experiment, fail, and try again 
  • Everyone is asking: “How do we design for what’s next?” 

It’s not just about operational efficiency. It’s about strategic relevance. 

As Sharon Rice puts it, “Traditional planning doesn’t cut it anymore.” Integrated strategy weaves vision and resources into a design that flexes with change. That kind of strategy becomes muscle memory. You don’t wait for disruption to plan—you build through it. 

Your Wake-Up Call: Digital Is a Leadership Issue 

Digital is not just a toolset. It’s a mindset. And if it’s not being driven from the top, it’s not going anywhere fast.  

The CEO sets the tone. If you’re waiting on your team to “get it together,” look in the mirror. 

Are you modeling what change looks like? 
How much space do you give your team to test new ideas and learn from them?
When was the last time you measured what truly matters—not just what feels familiar?

Because the next wave isn’t coming. 
You’re already in it. 

Ready to Get Real About Your Integrated Digital Strategy? 

Start with one honest conversation. 

Ask your leadership team: 

  • What’s working? 
  • What’s stale? 
  • What’s missing? 

And don’t settle for safe answers. Transformation doesn’t come from the corner of your comfort zone. 

If you need a partner to help cut through the clutter and design a strategy that actually sticks—.orgSource is here. We work alongside teams to align people, process, and technology in ways that make sense now and next. 

📍 Call to Action: 

Need to know where your organization stands? 

Start with a Digital Readiness Assessment or reach out for a 30-minute consult. 

Let’s stop making digital strategy the thing you get to after the “real work” is done. 
This is the work. 

Posted in .orgSource, #association40, Digital Leadership, Digital Thinking, Digital Transformation, Technology, Technology Assessment, Thought Leadership and tagged , , , , , , , ,