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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 seminar is taught by Michael C. Gilbert, the author of "The Gilbert Email Manifesto" (considered to be "one of the most important thought pieces to have influenced nonprofit use of the Internet") and "The Email Newsletter Marketing Model", the editor and contributing author of "The Guide to Nonprofit Email" and Communication Centered Technology Planning (the only book of its kind for this profession), the Editor of Nonprofit Online News, and the Founding President of the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network. For more information about Mr. Gilbert, please see his bio.

Live Online Seminars: These are presented at a scheduled date & time, broadcast live, and include live Q&A time with the instructor. Live online seminars presented by The Gilbert Center are open registration seminars, which means that anyone can attend. Please see our calendar for upcoming events. You can also read technical requirements and other basic facts for this seminar delivery option. (Please note that our calendar of live seminars only goes out a couple of months and not all topics will show up there.)

On-Demand Online Seminars: On-demand means you can attend at a time that is most convenient for your schedule. It consists of the recordings of the most recent live presentation, and comes packaged with a 30 minute phone consultation with the instructor so you can ask questions about the seminar materials and how they can best be put to use in your particular situation. You can also read technical requirements and other basic facts for this seminar delivery option. The catalog of seminars available on-demand is listed down the right-hand side of that same page, and also the calendar page. (Please note that not all topics are available yet for on-demand viewing. See the On-Demand Info page for a complete list of current options.)

Private In-House Sessions: If you have a group of people to whom you would like to offer training, please consider our private, in-house seminars. Which means you can hire us to present this and any of the seminars listed on this site, as well as custom sessions, for your group privately; online or in person at your location. Please contact us for more information if you're interested.

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