it strategic leadership and planning: how to plan for technology without knowing how it works
DESCRIPTION
Overview of developing a strategic technology plan; Understanding the resources required for technology implementation; How to leverage external IT resources and support.TRANSCRIPT
IT Strategic Leadership and Planning: How to Plan for Technology Without Knowing How it Works
Centre For Social Innovation
Nov. 23rd, 2007
Facilitators
Nadia GouveiaPartnership CoordinatorPartnership Platform
Jane ZhangPartnership CoordinatorPartnership Platform
The Partnership Platform
Trilliumfunded project that helps nonprofits find partners to implement technology projects
Identify your technology needs Get connected with corporate resources Help find technology volunteers Help develop a technology strategy
Introductions
Name
Organization
Is your organization technology saavy?
Learning Outcomes
Overview of developing a strategic technology plan
Understanding the resources required for technology implementation
How to leverage external IT resources and support
How to plan for IT without knowing how it works
Technology is not a ‘magic box’ Discussing technology at a technical level
propagates this misconception See ‘past the box’ to strategic application
Planning IT
Strategic planning ties technology to organizational goals
Leverages existing planning skills and capacity to integrate technology into organizational mandate
Demonstrates leaders understand how technology can serve an organization – not the other way around
Planning IT
Visioning How can technology help my organization?
Planning How can I plan and document a path to that
vision?
Planning IT
Visioning Goals – What do you want to achieve to move
your organization closer to fulfilling its mission? Objectives – What concrete, measurable,
specific, and achievable ‘targets’ are you aiming at to achieve those goals?
Strategies – What approaches can be used to achieve the objectives?
Technology Visioning Exercise GOAL(S)
What do you want to achieve to move your not
forprofitorganization closer to fulfilling its mission?
OBJECTIVE 1What concrete,
measurable, specific and achievable (within a certain timeframe)
“targets” are you aiming at?
OBJECTIVE 2What concrete,
measurable, specific and achievable (within a certain timeframe)
“targets” are you aiming at?
STRATEGY 1AWhat is one general
approach to achieving Objective 1?
STRATEGY 1BWhat is another general approach to achieving
Objective 1?
STRATEGY 2AWhat is one general
approach to achieving Objective 2?
STRATEGY 2BWhat is another general approach to achieving
Objective 2?
Writing IT Down
Strategic Technology Plans Document and plan a path to achieve your vision Define needs, state strategies, and identify
required resources Clearly communicate intentions to external
partners – including consultants and funders
Writing IT Down
Strategic technology plans will: Help ensure you have the right resources, your
employees have the right skills, and access to the right support structure
Position you for success with funders and potential partners
Integrate specific technology projects into your overall technology strategy
Revisit your plan every 2 to 3 years
Writing IT Down
Strategic technology plans are quite simple when approached step by step
Successful plans: Map technology needs to organizational goals Assess an organization’s current situation Detail resources required to maintain and
support basic technological infrastructure Reference specific technology projects (detailed
in other documents)
Writing IT Down
Strategic technology plans include: Overview Technology assessment Technology infrastructure Training and support Web site and online applications Individual technology projects Action plan and technology budget
Overview
Introduces your organization Describes organizational goals Details technology goals and maps them to
your strategic goals.
Technology Assessment
Describes the current state of technology in your organization
Strengths and weaknesses relating to how you work with technology,
Who is responsible for technology, and any areas that require improvement or addressing.
Technology Infrastructure
Details specifics relating to your current technology equipment
Software usage Networks Management procedures.
Training and Support
Details how you will address IT training and support needs for your staff members
Writing technology training into your staff’s professional development programs
Includes contact information for external technical support providers
Website/Online Applications
Information on your users, the functionality of your web site, content management strategies and tools
Online marketing campaigns Information on the technical architecture of
the web site/application (server access passwords, etc.)
Technology Project Plans
Collection of smaller technology plans relating to the specific initiatives that comprise your overall organizational plan
The technology plans contain specific detail as to the critical path, resource requirements, and budget.
Action Plans and Budgets
Action Plan – highlevel schedule and responsibilities for implementing the various technology projects described in the previous section.
Technology Budget – Details all of the budgeting requirements of the specific technology projects your organization plans to implement, as well as information on general maintenance, purchasing, training, and support.
Budgeting for IT
Total cost of ownership (TCO) What it costs to install, operate, and maintain a
technological infrastructure – not just the price of the hardware
An accurate measure of the true cost of technology
Budgeting for IT
Not allowing for TCO results in wasted technological assets
Calculating IT budgets accurately can ensure you have the resources you need
Funders are starting to realize that technology funding is important
Budgeting for IT
How to position technology expenses in funding requests? Ensure the expenses are part of overall budgets,
where the ‘sell’ is the strategic objective I.e., request funding for online fundraising
campaigns, not for 6 new computers Funders want to buy social and economic
benefit, not boxes and wires
External Assistance Most organizations will require external assistance
in at least 1 of 3 areas: Planning Development Maintenance
Sources of external assistance Volunteers / Board Members Individual Consultants Small IT Companies Large IT Companies Other Charities and Nonprofits
External Assistance
Ideal Scenario Volunteer board member to work on requirements
gathering Individual consultant to prepare requirements
documentation and provide project management support Key tools – hardware and software – donated from a large
IT company Small IT company or other charity or nonprofit to perform
any technical work Individual volunteers to assist with daily updates and
maintenance Maintenance and support contract with another charity or
nonprofit
Today’s Takeaways
Visioning Worksheet
Strategic technology plan template
External Assistance Tips and suggested partnership model
Questions?
Contact us:
Partnership Platform.http://www.partnershipplatform.caEmail: [email protected]: 4166441018