Getting Out of Spreadsheets: How to Rally Your Whole Team Around a Big Tech Change-Webinar Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this webinar, Michelle and Kristen from Back Office Thinking discuss the steps involved in making a big tech change at a nonprofit organization. They emphasize the importance of identifying symptoms, diagnosing the problem, and prescribing the appropriate solution. The presenters share examples of common challenges faced by nonprofits and offer tips for managing the tech change process.<br /><br />One example involves a nonprofit that needs to track which of their volunteers are also donors. The organization currently uses a shared spreadsheet to combine data from different systems, causing delays and potential errors. The presenters advise asking more questions to understand the underlying reasons for using the spreadsheet and to assess whether adding the volunteer coordinator as a user in the donor management system would be a more effective solution.<br /><br />The presenters also emphasize the importance of including all stakeholders in the tech change process, especially those who will be most affected by the change. They suggest creating a visual representation of the systems and processes involved to help facilitate conversations and identify areas for improvement.<br /><br />Additionally, the presenters point out common pitfalls to avoid, such as favoring buzzwords over real requirements, skipping steps in the project, and dismissing valid objections too quickly. They advise setting clear goals for the project, being honest about trade-offs and impacts, and celebrating success when goals are achieved.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar emphasizes the importance of a thoughtful and collaborative approach to tech change in nonprofits, and provides practical advice for successfully implementing and managing these changes.

Keywords

tech change at nonprofit organization

symptoms identification

problem diagnosis

solution prescription

challenges faced by nonprofits

managing tech change process

volunteers tracking

shared spreadsheet data integration

stakeholders involvement

avoiding common pitfalls