Either you test, or your members will
If I was forced to choose the single most important activity during a system implementation, I would choose testing. The point of testing is to ensure the system does what you expect it to do in normal, day-to-day use. Can you process and renew members? Can members and customers register for an event? Can you manage committee membership? And so on.
As I always tell my clients, either you (the staff) will do testing before go-live, or your members and customers will do it after go-live (i.e., as soon as they start trying to interact with you either via your website or directly via phone or mail).
Most off-the-shelf systems already "work," in that they do the things they promise (e.g., dues renewal, event registration, etc.). But they need to be configured to your association's business rules, and that's where the testing becomes critical.
And of course, even after go-live, if you add new functionality, that needs to be tested.
So ask yourself: Who's doing the testing in your organization? The staff, or your members?
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Data is for action
Data is for action When deciding whether or not to collect a piece of data, …
Have you shopped yourself?
Have you shopped yourself? I’ve always been fascinated by the “secret shopper” concept. (Maybe it’s …
To improve adoption, decrease the friction
To improve adoption, decrease the friction “Before you try to increase your willpower, try to …
“Is this normal?”
“Is this normal?” ne of the greatest parts about my job is that I get …
Give your staff more freedom, not less
Give your staff more freedom, not less I often tell my clients, when it comes …
My advice? Stop doing that
My advice? Stop doing that! There is a classic TV sketch featuring Bob Newhart as …
Is a college degree really required?
Is a college degree really required? I saw a job listing last week for an …
Small actions become big wins
Small actions become big wins I’ve written before about how data accretes, the idea that …
Try not to OFFEND your members…
Try not to OFFEND your members… I recently received an email from an association where I’ve …
How will you use that data?
How will you use that data? One of the beauties of technology today is how easy …