Breakout: Managing Technology 2.0 - Thur. April 5

Managing Technology 2.0
Strategies for integration in the new, decentralized world
Peter S Campbell - Techcafeteria.com

Liveblogging the session.

Web 2.0 is:

• Data-centric
• Standards Based
• APIs everywhere

Questions to ask off the bat:

Does it have standards-based, well-documented open API? Does it have an active community of users and developers? Is the data dictionary available for review prior to purchase?

Reporting Screen:

Can you report on at least three tables in one report? can you modify a standard report and customize your own reports? Finally how export friendly is the reporting system.

I would add, are queries and supports integrated? The idea being to reduce as much excel use as possible.

Budget and Planning:

We have to be realistic about our realities in funding and planning. Maybe 6 months to implementation is unrealistic. Communicate with the Executives why it's important to have the above requirements. No Vendors that lock us out of the data.

Have a strategic plan with 2, 6, 12, and 24 month goals and frequently review those goals.

Peter talks about the power of RSS feeds. Think about getting the data reports fed to you via RSS, latest contacts, tours, etc... instead of having to run reports weekly.

Next question: Should I build or buy?

Buy if you can. Base decision on unique business processes and objectives. Develop platforms, don't build from scratch. If you have to build, build standards based and extensible software.

Since about the year 2000 nonprofits have come around to thinking that investing in technology is central to fulfilling your mission. Now, Peter believes organizations have to be API savvy. Can you use GoogleMaps, Yahoo Pipes, etc, tap those APIs for your organization.

See this presentation in PowerPoint.

There is some post discussion about finding an 'out of the box' solution to a nonprofits needs. Peter users Salesforce.com. Which he uses because of the open API. You get free licenses, but you pay for the development. If you're in meetings with Convio, Kintera, etc... Peter hopes you'll keep hitting them on when the open API will be ready.

A question was asked what resources there are to help you through the process of deciding what software is right from you. If anyone has any resources for finding Needs Assessment systems, processes analysis, and then plugging that into a needs matrix. Finally, we need somewhere the compares the software based on features and needs. I'm hoping to find some answers to this at the Selecting an Online Fundraising Technology: Larger Organizations breakout session this afternoon.

Thanks to everyone for the great questions and help and thanks to Peter S Campbell for the excellent presentation. Good luck on your new career in consulting!

ps... Peter, update your LinkedIn Profile
See also Peter's Del.icio.us links

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