Accidental Techie: Supporting, Managing, and Maximizing Your Nonprofit's Technology

by Sue Bennett, Tom Battin, Eugene Chan

How to manage tech support (and keep your sanity!) One day you unjammed the printer and saved the day. But now, somehow, all technology resources have become your responsibility! The Accidental Techie shows you how to create a support system that will help your organization use technology more effectively and make your day-to-day life less hectic. Step-by-step guidance to creating an effective support system This hands-on guide walks you through five projects that, when completed, will give you a comprehensive and usable support system for conducting a technology inventory, assessing and supporting staff, assessing and buying technology, protecting your organization from disasters and data loss, and managing your role. You don't have to tackle the projects all at once or in any particular order. Dive in where it makes sense for you. ""Techie Tools"" make this guide even more useful You'll find ready-to-use templates, worksheets, and sample policies; 135 resources on topics such as funding, discussion groups, application service providers, web site development, and donor management software; a security policy checklist; steps for creating a database that gives you the reports you need; and a glossary of terms every techie should know. How to get technology funding A special chapter on funding reveals five questions most funders ask to judge technology requests, and gives you tips for creating a compelling request. Build management support for your work Many accidental techies face the challenge of influencing major organizational policies and procedures without real authority to do so. Board members and managers can use this book to understand and support your work. Ultimately, better managed technology leads to better services. Whether you're new to all this or a veteran, The Accidental Techie if your ally. Use it and start making your life easier today

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Tatjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for those of you who were once power users but now find yourself the de facto IT person at a small organization...
It's especially helpful for me because it's geared entirely towards non-profit where money is, traditionally, incredibly tight. Of course, in this flavour economy, this book may be relevant to every accidental techie.
Not only does this book help you gain focus in an inevitably overwhelming situation, it helps you figure out a game plan and offers a number of resources that help the non-profit sector's technology needs.

Best of all, you will know you aren't alone.

[jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

nonfiction, technical support, nonprofit, management, computers, networks, database, good resource list