We hear from many nonprofits that they want to adopt and use the latest technology to serve their mission. And at the same time, they struggle to plan and implement technology interventions to optimize staff and leadership efforts. It's time to stop worrying and start planning. Let's take a look at three tips to get you started with tech planning.
Step 1: Create Your Tech Planning Committee
A tech committee will ensure that you are not a legend in your own mind — that you have a balanced approach to assessing, building, and implementing an organizationwide plan. But choose wisely! Find out more about the committee and how it works in Tech Planning 101: Getting Started and Assessing Your IT Infrastructure.
Step 2: Go on a Hardware Safari
Let's face it, going on a safari sounds like more fun than analyzing your hardware. In order to create a successful tech plan, you must first find out exactly what hardware your organization uses currently. Take about two hours and get your committee to help document (in one place) your organization's hardware. This list should include things like servers, printers, your PBX phone system, firewalls, and a mapping of a network diagram.
Step 3: Convene Your Tech Planning Committee
Now it's time to work on your tactical technical plan document. Walk through your organizational priorities for hardware and software infrastructure with your tech planning committee. Define your core priorities and what your staff needs to do their jobs well.
Be willing to look critically at your organization's strengths and areas of improvement. Use real-world examples about what your organization is currently doing well with the hardware and software it has. Also, identify real examples of where your hardware and software are failing or not meeting staff needs.
These three steps are just the beginning to develop a proper tactical technical planning strategy. For step-by-step instructions, you can take our free on-demand course Tech Planning 101: Getting Started and Assessing Your IT Infrastructure. You'll receive a planning workbook and in-depth instruction for creating a technical plan for your organization.
If you're an ambitious learner, you can get the full learning track that will help you develop a fully realized tactical technology action plan to guide your organization. Go for the All Access Pass — four courses in all. All courses are delivered on demand, so you can take your time in learning and applying these strategies.
These tactical tech planning courses are part of a partnership between TechSoup and Idealware.
