Management

Introduction

Training

Funding

Procedures & Finance

Health And Safety

Staffing

Overview

This section of the site has information and links that relate to the management, finance and funding of computers and technology in your organisation. The use of computers is pretty much integral to running an office these days and you can't get away from it if you receive grants or public funding. This means that you have a duty to use it effectively, to ensure that your staff are supported in its use and that it is funded consistently and at the right level.

Too often ICT is regarded as an add on rather than integrated into the working practice of the organisation. This section will give you ideas, examples and links to embed ICT into the infrastructure of your organisation.

What's available

example policies
links to resources
asset tracking
investment planning
human resource issues
managemenent information systems
databases
funding

Top 10 things you should know about IT if you run a voluntary organisation... do you?

How to get help

Whatever the problem, Virtual Riders can offer help either directly or by putting you in touch with a specialist who can help. Many of the links in the members section will fast track you to all the documentation that you need. A very good starting point is to have an acceptable use policy which will apply to all aspects of using ICT in your organisation. There are many links to examples of these (and templates) in the procedures and finance pages, but if you want a hand developing this call 0845 337 2949. For further infromation look at the ICT hub knowledgebase on management .

Why bother with this

ICT is just a facet of how any organisation works or is run. It is simply a tool, but is often seen as either a saviour or a black hole that consumes resources. Managing it increases effectiveness, controls expenditure and allows its use to be planned as part of the business process rather than as an add on. It is a core cost which should be reviewed annually and funded accordingly.

How getting it right makes money

When ICT is integrated into the business processes of an organisation it becomes just another overhead, such as rent or services. By building up the correct financial model (depreciation and replacement) there is a consistent and routine pattern to upgrading. This allows work to be more effective as there is no dependency on 'new funding' to upgrade equipment. It is simply part of the overall budget. In the long term this allows for strategic planning and the build up of contingent reserves. In other words have ICT within the core costs of an organisation so that funders are paying for sustainability rather than the purchase of a computer.