Technology Planning – Mission Driven Technology

Background

As part of its Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) promotional and skills building activities, Women'sNet offers on-site technology planning with interested women's organisations.

The Technology planning process involves working with your staff to assess your current capacities and future needs, identifying ways that technology can be harnessed to improve program delivery or to innovate new program areas. The outcome of this process is a technology plan that compliments the strategic plans of your organisation.

How Will Technology Planning Benefit You?

Developing and using a technology plan is one of the most empowering things a non-profit organisation can do as it seeks to use computer technology to its fullest. A technology plan as a document serves as an implementation plan for employing technology as a tool to enhance your operations, both by improving current program delivery and innovating new program areas. Furthermore, this plan will help define staff skills and infrastructure needs, as well as the support structures needed to enhance these areas. A technology plan is also a powerful fundraising tool, providing clear motivation for the benefits and costs of new technologies.

What is a Technology Plan?

A technology plan is a detailed, written document that connects your organisation's use of technology (current and future) to achieving your organisation's mission. Rather than being technology-focused, the technology plan considers your needs and addresses them in the most effective, efficient way possible within the boundaries of your financial and human resources. A technology plan can include the following aspects:

• Hardware and software needs
• A networking plan
• Internet access requirements
• Email access
• Database needs
• Staff training
• Technology maintenance, including backup and virus protection
• Website plan
• Information management plan

By developing a technology plan, your organisation will be in full control of your use of technology. It allows you to be proactive about the use of technology, rather than reacting to perceived needs on an ad hoc basis.

One of the most beneficial aspects of a technology plan is that you can use it as a reference when budgeting or requesting funding. You can be sure that the technology you request is really the technology you require.

The technology plan should be based on your strategic plan, as well as information gathered from staff members. Since technology changes so quickly, a technology plan should be no more than two years in scope, even though your strategic plan may be longer.

For more information on Technology Planning, please see TechSoup.org.