Management Consulting Services - Technology

Networked Nonprofit Blog: How MCS Moved Completely to the Cloud and Why You Should Too.

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:57:11 -0400

Within the last year, MCS eliminated all of its technology infrastructure by moving our applications to “the cloud”. For those of you not familiar with cloud computing, its essentially hosted software applications and associated data on the Internet in a models. Such models are also known as “software as a service” or as IBM coined “on demand computing” (for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing). MCS’s move is indicative of major changes underway in the technology world and could be a model for nonprofits.

Technology Decisions: How have your IT/Technology projects worked out?

Michaelfire — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:26:37 -0400

Non-profits have less room for error when it comes to funding and implementing IT and technology projects. How have your implementations gone? Are you struggling with integration, limitations of staffing, funding, open source products? What is working well?

"Technology Decisions in Capacity Building", Brown Bag Lunch August 13, 12:30-2pm

Michaelfire — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:57:40 -0400

*Title:
"Technology Decisions in Capacity Building"

Please note new time! 12:30PM TO 2 PM

*Brief Description:
Organizations that expand their programs should be aware of the strategic
technology options available to them, and the benefits and risks associated
with each option. August 13, 12:30PM TO 2 PM, (We supply drinks and cookies) Free.

*A more detailed description:
Join Annkissam and Management Consulting Services for lunch (we supply the
drinks and cookies) and a workshop on the kind of technology decisions that
nonprofits face when scaling up their program operations. It's a great
chance to learn and network over lunch, and the event is free.

Networked Nonprofit Blog: Measuring 2.0 Success

Stephen Rockwell — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:31:09 -0400

Nonprofit leaders are becoming more familiar with the 2.0 tools and strategies that are creating a new paradigm for constituency engagement. A simple look at a nonprofit employment website shows a proliferation in new positions with titles such as "online community manager" or "new media communications associate". Even if an organization has yet to adopt the new technology, there is a growing awareness of a brave new world in which the organization must seek to engage.

Review of Wikinomics, by Caroline Brokamp

Christina Yoon — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:10:28 -0400

Wikinomics, written by Tapscott and Williams, is a
fascinating, quick read which provides insight into the way mass collaboration
via online social networking has transformed the world of business. Each chapter focuses on a different industry,
illustrating how wikis, blogs, social networks and other Web 2.0 technologies
have influenced today’s business leaders.
Examples described in the book include how mass collaboration has fueled
the development of Proctor and Gamble’s new view on R&D, the Human Genome
Project’s advancements in science and IBM’s acceptance of Linux.

Networked Nonprofit Blog: Technology Term Cheat Sheet for Nonprofit Leaders

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:12:14 -0400

MCS hosts leadership groups for nonprofit leaders. The group asked me to develop a list of terms for an upcoming training so that we're all starting from the same page. I figured it would make for a good blog post. Here's the cheat sheet:

Networked Nonprofit Blog: Your web and software infrastructure for less than $200 a year

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:19:49 -0500

Some funders and IT consultants claim that there is still a significant organizational gap when it comes to basic IT infrastructure. Such a story was true in the late nineties and into this decade, but it is a declining issue as a result of the amount of cheap or freely available software for nonprofits.
Much of this free software exists as software as a service on the web. The fact that the software is hosted on a website means that most of the processing for the software is happening on someone else's machine. This extends the life of your old computers since you don't need to upgrade to incorporate new software (unless you've made the mistake of upgrading to Windows VISTA).

Networked Nonprofit Seminar: Building and Managing Online Community

Stephen Rockwell — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:06:07 -0500

Strategies for activating your community and keeping the momentum going

Click Here to Register

Start: 12/11/2007 - 11:30am
End: 12/11/2007 - 1:30pm

As nonprofit organizations change their web presence from "brochure-ware" to a more active online community, new strategies, new staffing models and new business processes are necessary to ensure effective adoption of the technology.

This seminar is structured for organizations that are considering or currently working to build online communities. Specifically, we will cover practical strategies that you can apply today to:

Deliver value to members and website users
Find hooks for online participation for each individual and constituency

Networked Nonprofit Blog: The Online Community Manager

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:27:40 -0500

Over the last couple of months, I have seen more and more job postings from innovative nonprofits that are hiring for online community manager positions. This is a welcome sign that we are fast reaching an inflection point in the adoption of 2.0 technologies. Whether creating new positions or adjusting current positions, nonprofits are adjusting their human resources to meet the growing demands of building online community.

There a number of skill sets that one ought to look for when hiring the online community manager:

Networked Nonprofit Blog: Tagging and Social Bookmarking

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:28:32 -0400

Tagging and social bookmarking are topics that are frankly fairly new to me. I have heard a lot about this new phenomenon, but admittedly have spent relatively little time engaged in developing and executing strategies around these Web 2.0 technologies. Given my lack of knowledge I started experimenting. Here’s what I have found out so far.

Tagging

Networked Nonprofit Seminar: Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) in a 2.0 World

Stephen Rockwell — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:56:06 -0400

Review of CRM solutions and strategies for leveraging your data to enhance your communication strategy

Sign up for the seminar on November 14

Whether a spreadsheet with names and addresses or a sophisticated corporate CRM solution, almost all nonprofits have some mechanism to track their donors, volunteers and other stakeholders.

MCS White Paper Release: Boston Nonprofit Technology Adoption

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:55:12 -0400

MCS White Paper
Title: Why Boston-area Nonprofits Are Behind In Technology Adoption, Its Consequences, and What to Do About It
Abstract: The paper provides recommendations to nonprofit organizations, nonprofit technology intermediaries, and funders as to how to encourage more rapid technology adoption and to ensure effective use of technology. Specifically, the white paper recommends that the network of intermediaries establish a coordinating council that develops and delivers on a regional strategic plan for technology assistance.
White Paper is attached below:

We're going to discuss the white paper here as well.

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:53:33 -0400

let's discuss white paper as well here.

Web 2.0 Radio Program/Podcast: Fundraising Success

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:12:23 -0400

I recently was on Dr. Stephen Goldstein's WXEL public radio program, "Fundraising Success." I discussed some introductory Web 2.0 items.

http://wxelpodcasts.org/2007/08/14/fundraising-success-081207.aspx

MC 2.0 Blog: Defining Social Value Through an IT Lens

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:30:55 -0400

Defining value is a difficult task within the nonprofit sector because of the double bottom line with which organizations must contend. Nonprofits must concern themselves with both financial performance and mission-related social value. As a result of the varied missions throughout the sector, the desired outcomes of nonprofits do not readily lend themselves to a standard definition of value.

The Tech-Savvy Nonprofit

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:51:12 -0400

What qualifies as a tech-savvy nonprofit? How do you know that your organization is utilizing technology at a proficient manner? Why should you even want to attain a state of tech-savvyness? These constantly evolving questions, but there is some fantastic research available on the corporate side that we can adapt to the nonprofit sector.

Reflections on Boston Nonprofit Technology Conference

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:13:09 -0400

Boston certainly has a vibrant nonprofit technology community. The Boston Nonprofit Technology Conference, put on by the good folks at TechFoundation, was made up mostly of the nonprofit technology folks from the area. While it was a little disappointing not to see more nonprofit decision makers (executive directors, program managers, board members, etc.), the conference provided a great opportunity to network and learn from leaders in the field.

White Paper Forthcoming

Stephen Rockwell — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:29 -0400

A white paper based on the thesis will be available later this week on the site.

Paper Can Be Found Here

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 22 May 2007 15:47:57 -0400

http://www.mcsorg.org/?q=node/40

Study on Nonprofit Technology Adoption Released

Stephen Rockwell — Tue, 22 May 2007 15:25:28 -0400

Discuss Here: http://www.mcsorg.org/?q=forum/16

ABSTRACT

The attached paper seeks to determine the critical factors that influence the adoption and effective use of technologies within the nonprofit sector. The analysis places a particular emphasis on the role of funders who finance technology adoption and intermediaries who play the role of catalysts, enablers, and educators in the implementation of and subsequent innovation with technology.

Reflections on Dr. Weill's Class: IT Portfolio Management

Stephen Rockwell — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:59:16 -0500

I daresay that most nonprofits do not view their Information Technology as a portfolio to be managed, but segmenting the types of IT investments can be helpful in order to be more beneficially use very limited resources.

The MIT Sloan Center for Information Systems Research and Dr. Peter Weill have developed the concept of an IT Portfolio with four asset classes:

read more

Reflection on Dr. Peter Weill's Class - IT Decision-Making

Stephen Rockwell — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:13:19 -0500

I'm taking a fantastic class at MIT Sloan with Professor Peter Weill entitled "Generating Business Value from IT". Weill primarily focuses his class on Fortune 1000 companies, but I believe there are important lessons for the nonprofit sector. I will attempt to tease out these nuggets of wisdom from his lectures and class discussions through a series of blogs this Spring.

Technological Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector

Stephen Rockwell — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:57:47 -0500

A growing interdependency exists between government, networks and the private sector facilitated by information and communication technologies and a networked mode of organization that encourages cross-organization and cross-organizational interdependencies. “Networks allow innovative government officials to discharge government’s important role in solving social problems, by supporting – not supplanting – functioning elements in civil society.”1