Data Points to Success: Getting Started with a Database

for Your Organization

Kevin LoLead Technology AnalystJuly 19th, 2011

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We are working toward a time when every social benefit organization on the planet has

the technology resources and knowledge they need to operate at their full potential.

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45+ US TechSoup Donor Partners

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TechSoup.org resources

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Overview

• Logic model review• Planning your database• Resourcing • Decision points• The future of data

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Why do you collect data?

Source: Demonstrating Value, www.demonstratingvalue.org

Databases help turn data into information

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Logic Model Review

Source: Measuring Success, Product Grant Program, http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac48/pgp_success.html

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Planning your database

• Current and future data– What sort of data do you have already?– What data do you wish you collected?

• Business processes– Who handles your data? (ie. data flow)– Are there areas of improvement?

• Reporting– How can you better assess your performance?– What kind of report would you like to produce

for your board/funders/supporters?

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Requisite Resources

• Don’t expect a database to be “one time expense”

• Will include both capital and operating expenditures (“CapEx” vs “OpEx”)– Acquisition costs– Ongoing costs– Maintenance costs

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Things to ask yourselves

• Off-the-shelf vs customized?• Online vs. Offline?• How open/secure do you want your data? • Who needs to access what data?• How much interoperability do you need? • What platforms do you run?

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Plan of action

• RFP– Prepare a budget– Setting a timeframe – Determine deliverables– Review and correct

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Advanced data

• Business Intelligence– Analytics – Infographics

• Benchmarking and dashboards• Un/Semi/structured data

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Additional Resources

• http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/databases/archives/page10161.cfm - Database Planning Guide

• http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/big_data/index.asp - McKinsey Big Data Report

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Questions and Comments?

• kevin@techsoupglobal.org