Choosing a Database

Data Points to Success: Getting Started with a Database for Your Organization Kevin Lo Lead Technology Analyst July 19 th , 2011

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

Why do you collect data? Source: Demonstrating Value, www.demonstratingvalue.org Databases help turn data into information

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

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?

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

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?

Plan of action
RFP
Prepare a budget
Setting a timeframe
Determine deliverables
Review and correct

Advanced data
Business Intelligence
Analytics
Infographics
Benchmarking and dashboards
Un/Semi/structured data

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

Questions and Comments?
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Choosing a Database

by TechSoup Global on Jul 21, 2011

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