ISSUE
23
|
DEC 2013
In this issue… 66% of Non-Profits Using Tech Plans Why “Planning” is so Popular How Some Tech Plan Clients Waste Time (…and how you can save some)
66% of 2012 non-profits respondents have made a technology plan. That figure represents a 30% increase in the last five years. (The 7th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investments Report, NTEN, April 2013)
Extreme Weather Batters Bottom Line
66% of Non-Profits Surveyed Utilize Technology Plans In a 2010 survey of 2,654 nonprofit organizations by NTEN only 40% had a technology plan in place. When asked again in 2012, that number had risen to 66%. Why the sudden surge in IT planning? Planning reduces emergency repairs and the extra costs, lost productivity, and stress that they cause. Strong planning can also ensure that IT spending is allocated in a way that truly supports the mission of the organization. One indicator of poor IT planning is the correlation between “infrastructure spending” and “repairs required.” Almost every dip in infrastructure investment results in a dramatic increase in emergency repairs and service costs (see charts on the right). Better planning by the non-profit in the example could have prevented this unfortunate situation. Read inside how you can team up with Tech Networks to improve your planning.
Infrastructure spending
Repairs
Anonymized data used with permission from a TNB client.
Why “Planning” is So Popular According to the report, only 5% of organizations who struggle with their IT have a separate IT budget. Among non-profits who excel at integrating IT with their mission, 40% have a separate IT budget.
Tech Network’s new approach to planning puts the client in charge by assembling a team comprised of members of client
These same successful NPOs enjoy more efficient operations and more effective fundraisers. You can see complete details and analysis of this report online at www.nten.org.
“Leading organizations are nearly twice as likely to include technology in their strategic plans than struggling organizations.”
organization and TNB staff.
Tech Networks is a strong advocate of planning. Our TechPlan model is designed for NPOs without internal IT staff and we are committed to making sure they do not get stuck in the frantic and frustrating “just-fix-it” mode.
(The 7th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investments Report, NTEN, April 2013)
Joe Snowden VP of Business Development
Meet a Boston Techie
While sales people often focus on getting clients to sign on the dotted line and move on as quickly as possible, for the past 30 years Joe has been invested in long-term client satisfaction across several industries. Joe is experienced at transforming the “back offices” of organizations in order to make sure clients get what they need. For instance, while working for a Home Improvement Contractor, he implemented a fulfillment calendar to make sure he was able to make and keep promises to clients. Joe quoting Epictetus, says “‘We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.’ I have learned to listen to client needs… as I listened to the problems of our clients, I saw right away the parallel between IT and my prior work for a chimney company.” In chimney repair, allowing for a lapse in repairs can cause catastrophic failure, endanger households and cost many times as much as completing routine maintenance. Joe joined TNB in May and has been an evangelist for longer-term thinking here as well. By asking the right questions, Joe has helped clients see the importance of investing in planning and improvements in infrastructure that have helped save them money, improve efficiency and better focus on their missions.
How Some TechPlan Clients Waste Time (…and how you can save some) It is not uncommon for our TechPlan clients to have overlooked the importance of IT planning in their broader planning efforts. As a result of this oversight, clients often use up their TechAdvisor hours putting out fires (i.e. making emergency repairs) rather than making more substantive upgrades to their systems and planning. Maximizing your investment in IT resources requires a plan that takes you from waiting to see if
Tech Audit Record current software and hardware use, licenses and equipment
something breaks, to having a plan in place designed to protect two of your most valuable resources…time and money. We know just how hard it can be for some organizations to transition from the reactive “IT maintenance and upkeep” mode to a more proactive “strategic and cost-effective planning” mode, we’ve developed a “Four Step” process to show you the way.
Extreme Weather Batters Bottom Lines The Climate Action Liaison Coalition (CALC) hosted a forum last month on the effects of climate change and extreme weather on small businesses. The panel of speakers was moderated by Laury Hammel from the Sustainable Business Network and featured Julie Wormser, Executive Director of the Boston Harbor Association.
Ms. Wormser discussed what actions members of the private sector could take to promote climate change awareness and adaptation in the greater Boston area. Climate Action Liaisons work within businesses to help them meet the challenges and opportunities of climate change. Liaisons educate employees, empower leaders to advocate directly for policy solutions, and collectively influence the business community’s position on climate change related issues. TNB launched CALC in January. To learn more visit climateactioncoalition.org
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