technology planning for nonprofits

Technology Planning for NonprofitsNational Council on Volunteering and ServiceJune 29, 2010

conference hashtag: #NCVSsession hashtag: #TPNPSnotes and additional resources: bit.ly/ncvstech

what is technology planning?

flickr.com/tjshirey

dangers of poor technology planning

flickr.com/inky


flickr.com/wurz "tyranny of the urgent"


flickr.com/editor "tyranny of the urgent"small picture focus

inspired by Ed Granger-Happ

pyramid of nonprofit technology antecedence


flickr.com/elusive_fish "tyranny of the urgent"small picture focus

inconsistent policies and procedures


flickr.com/johnjack "tyranny of the urgent"small picture focus

inconsistent policies and proceduresnot ready for natural or man-made disasters

"It's better to 'waste' the time backing up than to dread the effects of a disaster that could happen any time. Redundancy in communication options is very important, as is having off-site resources for communication when your systems are down."

- Susan, Eagle's Nest Foundation http://bit.ly/tsdisaster

IT and mission alignment

flickr.com/scottwills

IT needs to stop being the ones asking for new money. If you have stronger relationships with the rest of your organization and you help them develop the business case, they can ask for the budget for the project. Notice I said ask for money for the project, not for the tech. It is just different when someone else asks to fund a project, rather than IT asking for more technology. Let the rest of your org become the champions for technology. - Steve Heye, YMCA of Chicago http://bit.ly/forgetthetech

the technology planning process

http://bit.ly/tsguideflickr.com/sandreli


flickr.com/cardoso

assess current infrastructure

assess current infrastructure

flickr.com/cardoso

document entire infrastructuredesktopslaptopsserverssoftware keyswarranties

admin passwordsnetwork diagramstech support infophone tree

this data is your best friend


flickr.com/dunechaser

assess current infrastructureestablish a technology team

establish a technology team


accidental techie vs purposeful techie

A major issue the Accidental Techie has with her responsibilities (however informal they may be) is that they conflict with her core job function. Not everyone is a natural born multitasker, but the Purposeful Techie puts in place parameters that allow her to balance competing needs. It’s basic, but scheduling time in her calendar for maintenance and individual computer-user assistance at appropriate intervals in the day, week or month will bring order to the support role and create boundaries. - Mark Shaw http://bit.ly/purposefultechie

establish a technology team


matrix volunteers and consultants with staff in ways that use everyone's skills effectively


flickr / DoubleM2


define your tech needs

define your tech needs

flickr / DoubleM2

focus on the problem, not the solution (yet)


flickr.com/clevercupcakes


define your tech needs explore solutions

explore solutions

flickr.com/clevercupcakes

Don’t start with the unlimited-budget scenario and build down from it. Instead, start with the simplest,

cleanest solution and build up from it.


flickr.com/eric731



budgeting for technology


flickr.com/eric731

total cost of ownershiphttp://bit.ly/totalcost


flickr.com/eric731

training and maintenance


flickr.com/eric731

grants for technologyhttp://bit.ly/techgrant


flickr.com/jinglesthepirate



budgeting for technologyimplementation

implementation


the three P's

implementation


the three P's

phased schedule

implementation


the three P's

phased schedulepublicize changes

implementation


the three P's

phased schedulepublicize changesplease train the staff

xkcd.com

working with technical volunteers

http://bit.ly/techvolsflickr.com/sanjoselibrary


flickr.com/wwny

ingredients for a volunteer project

key ingredients for a volunteer tech project

flickr.com/wwny

well-defined needs


flickr.com/wwny

well-defined needsspecific deliverables


flickr.com/wwny


flexible, short-term schedule


flickr.com/wwny


flexible, short-term scheduleclear, consistent communication


flickr.com/wwny


flexible, short-term scheduleclear, consistent communication

built-in sustainability


flickr.com/breff

ingredients for a volunteer project scoping a volunteer project

scoping a volunteer project

assessing and prioritizing needs

flickr.com/breff


what not to rely on volunteers for

flickr.com/breff


qualifications

flickr.com/breff


flickr.com/number657


finding volunteers

finding volunteers


volunteer job descriptions

finding volunteers


volunteer job descriptions

• mission and background• description of the project• skills needed for the project• time commitment• work schedule. how flexible?• contact information

finding volunteers


screening tech volunteers


flickr.com/jasoneppink


finding volunteersmanaging volunteers

managing volunteers


volunteer liaison

managing volunteers


communications and check-ins

managing volunteers


liability and security issues


flickr.com/textures-stock-backgrounds


finding volunteersmanaging volunteers

closing the volunteer project

Very quickly, a bit about TechSoup

flickr.com/sean94110

Very quickly, a bit about TechSoup

1.Donated software and hardware2.Tech expertise3.Support from nonprofit community

Elliot Harmoneharmon (at) techsoupglobal.orgtwitter @elliotharmonskype elliotharmon

thanks

notes and additional resources:bit.ly/ncvstech

technology planning for nonprofits

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