What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know about Technology

1
What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know
aboutTechnology

• presented by John Kenyonwww.johnkenyon.org

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Nonprofits Technology
• Planning Budgeting
• Ten Technology Commandments
• Resources
• Question Answer

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Nonprofits Technology

• Systems Analysis
• Planning
• Hardware
• Software
• Databases
• The Internet
• Online Services
• The Future

4
Work Systems Framework
Customers
Products Services
Business Process
Participants
Technology
Information
Context
Infrastructure
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Work Systems Principles

• Customers, Please the customer Products
  Services
• Business Process Perform the work efficiently
• Participants Serve the participants
• Information Create value from information
• Technology Minimize effort consumed by
  technology
• Infrastructure Deploy infrastructure as a genuine
  resource
• Context Minimize unintended conflicts and risks

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System Analysis Viewpoints
Results
Customers
Products Services
People
Business Process
Process
Participants
Technology
Information
Context
Infrastructure
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Users and Audiences

• Concentric Circles of Constituents
• Matching Product Delivery to the audience(s)

Board
Staff
Major Donors
Members
Interested Prospects
General Public
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Systems Planning

• Roles
• Elements
• Steps
• Goals
• Timeframe
• Budget

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Roles in Planning

• Define/identify members of the planning team
• CIO function - Organizational perspective
• Consultant function - Outside/Technology Expert
  perspective
• Organizational stakeholder function -
  Process/People perspective
• End-User function - Results/User perspective

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Key Elements of a Plan

• Organizational Profile
• Technology Vision statement
• Project- Description- Benefits- Tasks- Costs
• Budget
• Timeline/Critical Path

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Key Steps in Planning

• Assess Current Tech and Organizational Readiness
• Create the Team, Consider Consulting Support
• State the Vision, Develop Criteria, Set Goals
• Create Components of the Plan
• Establish Priorities
• Share/Explain the Plan, Get Feedback
• Make Decision, Develop Budget and Timeline
• Implement the Plan, Train Staff
• Evaluate Technology Implementation Process
  Planning
• Revise Plans based on Evaluation

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Project Example

• Vision
• All computers networked to share information
• Project plans- Select/Purchase/Install/Configure
  network cards- Select/Purchase/Install cables-
  Select/Purchase/Install/Configure Hub- Establish
  security/access levels- Configure/test desktop
  computers- Test networking operations- Train
  staff on network use, troubleshooting

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Project Example

• Budget Hours- Select/Purchase network cards
  500 2 - Install/Configure network
  cards 8- Select/Purchase cables 200
  2- Install cables 200 0- Select/Purchase
  Hub 400 4 - Install/Configure
  Hub 3- Establish security/access levels
  6 - Configure/test desktop computers
  8 - Test networking operations 3- Train
  staff on network use, troubleshooting 8
• Ongoing maintenance estimate 5/month

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Project Example

• Timeline - Select/Purchase network cards
  January 2006- Install/Configure network
  cards January 2006- Select/Purchase cables
  January 2006- Install cables February
  2006- Select/Purchase Hub February 2006-
  Install/Configure Hub February 2006-
  Establish security/access levels March 2006-
  Configure/test desktop computers March
  2006- Test networking operations March
  2006- Train staff on network use,
  troubleshooting April 2006

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Assessing Project Risk
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Do-ability Grid
High
Project Benefit
Low
Low
High
Project Risk
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Budgeting

• Adjusting the Outlook, Face Technical/Economic
  Realities
• Preventive Budgeting
• Allocate Money Annually (TCO)
• Hardware
• Software
• Training
• Tech Support
• Determining value (TVO)
• Costs (lost productivity)
• Benefits (morale)

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Planning Review

• Define Business Models Goals
• Identify Roles
• Include Key Elements
• Complete all Key Steps in Planning
• Set Project Goals Objectives
• Use Consultants
• Preventative Budgeting

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Security Privacy

• Data Security
• Backups
• Restores
• Privacy Policies

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10 Nonprofit Tech Commandments

• After people, Data is your Most Important
  Resource
• Your Results depend on your Investment in Data
  (staff time, planning, training, resources
  allocated)
• Define and Know your Data Needs and Uses
• Seek out Data and Keep it Flowing
• Define your Needs in Detail BEFORE tool
  selectionHave tools? Regularly review new tools

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10 Nonprofit Tech Commandments

• Honestly Look at your Information Systems(Human,
  Data and Communication elements)
• Maintain Commitment of Board and Staff
• Have an Ongoing Conversation about Data
• Keep in Touch with other Organizations
• Knowledge eases Fear, Stay in the Know

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Nonprofits Technology

• Business Processes are the Key
• Appropriate TechnologyNeed, Culture, Resources
• Measure Twice, Cut Once
• Learn about The eNonprofit webification of
  stakeholders
• Technology can transform organizations

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Resources - Books

• ManagingNonprofits.org
• Managment

Wired for Good Planning
The Accidental TechieHands-On
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Resources - Guides
The eNonprofit a Guide to ASPs, Internet
services and online software By Michael Stein
and John Kenyon CompassPoint Nonprofit
Services Free downloadwww.compasspoint.org/enon
profit
Online Fundraising Handbook 92
pages Published by Network for
Good/Groundspring.org Free download www.grounds
pring.org/learningcenter
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Resources - Internet

• Techsoup.org - Nonprofits Technology
• N-TEN.org - Listservs Resources
• NPower.org - 12 Regional Affiliates, TechAtlas
• Idealware.org - Software Reviews
• TechFinder.org, techunderground.org - Tech
  Consultants
• Craigslist.org/../nonprofit - Recruitment

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Successful Internet Strategies By John
Kenyon River Network Spring 2005 Free
download http//www.rivernetwork.org/library/rive
rvoices/rv2005v15n2_Lead.pdf
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• A Decade ofOnline Fundraising
• By Michael Stein
• and John Kenyon
• The Nonprofit Quarterly
• February 2005
• Free download
• www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/654.html

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Question Answer

• Your Experience
• Organizational Capacity
• Working with Consultants
• Appropriate Solutions
• Business Processes

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Thank You!