Technology Assessment and Planning
TechSoup's
Technology Planning Site
TechSoup is fast becoming the best source on the internet
for nonprofit technology information. This link goes directly
to their Technology Planning guides.
NPower's
Cool Tools
NPower has developed a number of resources that relate to technology
planning and assessments. This link will take you to a list
of those tools--most of them in Adobe PDF format.
NPower's Nonprofit Online ToolKit
Free online tools workbook
Technology
Literacy Benchmarks for NPOs
This is one of the best all-around tools for assessing an organization's
tech-savvy as well as its existing technology needs. Users rate
their organization's technology practices against "best
practices" benchmarks by responding to a series of questions.
One section deals specifically with best practices benchmarks
for technology planning, so users can quickly see how they compare.
The tool is available as a downloadable PDF file at
OneNorthWest's
Resource Articles
OneNorthWest works closely with environmental
organizations in the Pacific Northwest to help them with technology. Great articles.
NPower's Tech
Surveyor and Tech
Atlas
Both of these are interactive online tools that require users
to fill in the blanks. TechSurveyor is an assessment tool that
can help you survey staff, gives you a "snapshot"
of your organization's technology resources, and lets you generate
reports. TechAtlas is similar, but actually takes you through
the steps involved in developing a technology plan. Users start
by reviewing their organization's mission, assessing existing
resources, and identifying and prioritizing needs. It also helps
you track your progress in implementing your technology goals
and lets you create written reports. The tools are free but
NPower requires users to register before they use them.
TechSoup's
Worksheets
In addition to a virtual library of technology planning how-to
articles, TechSoup offers dozens of worksheets helpful to organizations
in the process of creating a technology plan. Unlike the assessment
tools described above, TechSoup's worksheets are basically lists
of questions that an organization should ask and answer in planning
for technology. The worksheets each address a specific aspect
of technology. For example, one worksheet will help you assess
your organization's accounting software, another will help you
assess your staff training needs.
Strategic
Technology's Courseware
This may be the Cadillac of technology planning resources. In
addition to a detailed series of lesson plans on all aspects
of the technology planning process, the web site offers a variety
of planning tools and fact sheets, articles, plan templates
and examples of completed plans.
NPower
Seattle's Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
This tool helps users determine the true costs of technology,
which is not just what the cost of hardware and software. In
addition to the worksheet, which is downloadable as an Excel
spreadsheet file, a guide to using the worksheet is offered
as a downloadable PDF file.
NYFA's
Technology Planning Curriculum
The technology planning curriculum from the New York Foundation
for the Arts may be especially useful for cultural organizations.
Not quite as comprehensive as Strategic Technology's curriculum,
it also covers the complete planning process and includes a
variety of useful tools.
LINC
Project Technology Planning Guides
The LINC Project has compiled a collection of tips and thinking-points
to get a group started on a technology planning and assessment
process. The link above also includes a slightly modified version
of the ONE/NW technology assessment tool. Although the LINC
Project only works with select low-income organizing groups
in the U.S., their guides offer another good starting point
for thinking about technology planning.
ONE/NW Technology
Assessment Forms
ONE/NW was one of the pioneers in assessing the technology needs
of nonprofit organizations. Follow this link to download their
complete tech assessment form. Although ONE/NW only works with
environmental organizations in the U.S. Northwest, their assessment
forms will work for almost any nonprofit.
Project
Alchemy Technology Planning Guide
Project Alchemy developed their Technology Planning guide with
the help of several nonprofit technology organizations including
ONE/NW, NetCorps, the LINC Project and others.
TechAtlas
TechAtlas is an on-line "do it yourself" technology
assessment and planning tool. TechAtlas will ask you questions
about your organization and your technology systems, and then
make recommendations that can help guide your technology planning
for the future. Although NetCorps always recommends having someone
help guide an assessment and planning process, TechAtlas is
a good place to start when thinking about inventorying your
current systems and getting some basic suggestions about plans
for the future.
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