Managing data is difficult. It takes time. It can be tedious. And it’s a never-ending task. So it’s very important to be sure we’re not making the management of data even more difficult by virtue of the business rules we have constructed. For example, I worked with one association who had such convoluted business rules […]
Beware self-inflicted data management issues Read More »
I’ve always loved the phrase “low-hanging fruit.” It creates such a great visual in my mind, the idea that I can easily get what I want by just reaching up and grabbing it. The idea, of course, is that when starting off a new project, look for some simple “wins” that will propel the project
One of the most common services I provide my clients is system selection and implementation. Simply put, I help my clients select software and then help them get that software up and running. With projects like these, there is a clearly defined end-goal: choosing software and then putting it into use. It’s easy to say
Data management is never "done" Read More »
As I noted in this post last month, one of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is a lack of training. Most AMS systems are complex, and training is a necessity to use the system most effectively. Most AMS implementations will include training as a budget line item. But that’s specifically for go-live
Budget for training AFTER go-live Read More »
One of my favorite comic strips was “Life in Hell” and one of my favorite strips from that series was this one: Image © Matt Groening When I work with clients on a system implementation, I often start with the following caveat: “Understand that we will make decisions with the best information we have available
Mistakes will be made Read More »
I talk to associations every week about the challenges they are facing with their data management systems. One of the most common issues raised is training, or more precisely, lack of training. Regardless of the situation, in most cases associations understand that one of the reasons they are struggling with their data is because staff
Not just training, but RE-training… Read More »
In my recently released benchmarking survey of association data management, I asked the following question: “Do you have a specific position dedicated to data management within your organization?” Forty percent of the associations responding said “yes.” (You can get a copy of the entire report here.) This is very good news. Anecdotally, I would guess that
The rise of the data manager Read More »
I recently read on an association forum the following phrase: “We have a mid-sized meeting with around 7,000 attendees…” What caught my attention was the characterization “mid-sized.” For many of my clients (in fact, for MOST of them), a 7,000 attendee meeting would be HUGE. Not “mid-sized” but monstrous. Having worked with several hundred associations over the
Small, medium, large? Depends who you ask. Read More »
One of the greatest benefits of the internet revolution is that data management has been moved from staff to customer. For example, back when I started my first membership director position (20 years ago now), nothing was being processed via the association’s website. This meant that ALL membership joins and renewals had to be processed by
The inherent conflict between staff needs and customer needs Read More »
My brother runs a business cleaning business in Minneapolis. We were discussing a business process issue (unrelated to cleaning OR databases) and how one should find a solution to a problem. He told me, “I always tell my cleaners, ‘Think like a lazy person but don’t act like a lazy person.’” In other words, find the simplest way
"Think like a lazy person but don't act like a lazy person." Read More »