One of the most common gripes I hear when I talk with business development staff within associations is that they don’t have enough time to enter data, and therefore don’t use the database. I think there are several things going on here:
- The system they are using MIGHT BE cumbersome.
- They’ve never developed a good system to work WITH their current database.
- They’re afraid of doing it, because real data might give answers they don’t want to hear.
- They’re being penny-wise and pound-foolish. Short-term it’s a pain to enter that data, long-term it has tremendous value.
So if you’ve got staff complaining about entering data in your database, take a look at this list and if any of these reasons fit. Each of these issues can be addressed; some involve technology, others involve behavior.