Enormous amounts of irreplaceable time and money have been spent and are continuing to be spent on technology projects that, in the end, are often only marginally successful, if they can claim success at all. The underlying causes of this can be found in flaws in the conventional technology planning processes of nonprofit organizations.

Most large technology projects fail, to some important degree. The typical technology initiative is driven by either some kind of advocate (an internal evangelist or external sales person) or a sense of anxiety (of falling behind or of missed opportunities) or both. Most technology projects are poorly planned, if they are planned at all.

Nonprofit organizations large and small tend to make their technology decisions based upon either technological opportunity or on the demands of their content and issues. But the usability, adoption, and strategic success of a new technology depends almost entirely on whether it enhances the communication processes that constitute the engine of organizational action.

Technology driven decisions are the most dangerous and the most common. They are perpetuated by technology consultants whose expertise and passion are in the technology itself and not in the sector or the communication needs of the organization. Technology is mysterious and attractive, but it continues to overpromise and under deliver.

Technology planning means a lot more than it used to. The communication lifeblood of organizations is resting more and more in new information and communication technology systems. Organizations cannot afford technology that does not reflect their communication needs.

And yet, most consultants who conduct technology planning are not communication professionals and are not well grounded in how to firmly root an organization's technology in their mission and operation. Technology planning is in most cases terribly technocentric. This lack of connection to the organization's communication needs is an expensive and distracting problem.

It doesn't have to be that way. Communication Centered Technology Planning will save your organization money, time, and much lost opportunity. This workshop will teach the principles and the tools that have allowed us to help organizations build their technology initiatives around their mission. Participants will learn about communication mapping, requirements development, and how to manage projects so that technology continues to have the highest possible benefit to staff and stakeholders.

Communication Centered Technology Planning is The Gilbert Center's premier model for firmly rooting an organization's technological infrastructure in the needs of its people and mission.

We deliberately avoid the temptations of technocentric planning and other traps that often lead to bad or irrelevant technology. Our techniques dramatically increase the relevance of your tools to your mission and to the work of your staff and volunteers. We leave you with a framework for further decisions that are equally well grounded, instead of with a legacy of disappointment.

This workshop is offered in both in house, and open registration, forms. Please feel free to contact us for more information.