Two UREP proposals have been submitted. 

They involve seven students and four faculty members.
We hope we will be succesful!

Use of Technology in Nonprofit Organizations: A survey of current practices in Qatar 

Abstract:

The proposed research seeks to create a clear understanding of how nonprofit and charitable organizations in Qatar currently use information and communication technology, and in doing so, support planning and service creation to help these organization make more effective use of technology toward meeting their mission.  This research will use academic research methodologies to identify such organizations in Qatar, and to characterize (a) what technologies they currently use (b) how this technology is managed and planned for, (c) how this technology supports (or not) their operations and programs, and (d) what outside support services they use, for example consultants, Internet hosted application, and outsourced development services.  This information will be useful for planning how government agencies, others nonprofits, as well as Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar can tailor its policies and programs can better serve the needs of the nonprofit charitable sector of the Qatar economy.

Keep IT or Give IT: Sourcing of Information Technology in Qatar, a study of potential advantages and risks 

Abstract:

Qatar is witnessing a remarkable economic growth and a huge potential for IT services needs, therefore the purpose of this study is to explore and understand the IT landscape in Qatar in order to investigate the current outsourcing practices and potential. The goal is to precisely understand the sourcing mechanisms and challenges in Qatar. The study will focus on small and medium enterprises, as well as large companies. The expected outcomes should be, first, a better insight into companies’ current sourcing practices. Second, an assessment of the success stories as well as the failures will set up the grounds for recommendations and possibly the identification of a Qatari (or regional) sourcing model. Third, the inherent risks of outsourcing will be revisited through the lenses of the regional business practices. Fourth, recommendations will be issued to address identified risks.