Steps to a Successful Telecommunications and Technology Needs Assessment
Our First Step
Employees who utilize telecommunications and other technologies are best positioned to provide valuable information for a complete needs assessment. We will conduct surveys of management and staff regarding both positive and negative experiences with existing technology, hardware, productivity, and customer service.
Deficiencies may include outdated hardware or software which is slow or unintuitive, requiring too much time for processing.
All of this will be documented for a thorough assessment
The Next Step
A review of existing, infrastructure, telecommunications, hardware and technology will be critical to a complete assessment. This process will include documenting and photographing all infrastructure and systems inside and out, noting type, condition document and photograph each piece of hardware, as well as any outside equipment or infrastructure, making sure to note its age and condition.
A record will be created and analyzed of software release versions, connections, and functions for improved IT and other possible system upgrades.
All this is key to identifying strengths and deficiencies in the current systems, both obvious and hidden. Then a comparison can be made with any employee issues or input documented in the first step.
Then
It will be important to review that data with key employees, which is crucial in determining recommendations for replacement and possible retirement of current systems based on improving function, security vulnerabilities, and business processes.
Considerations will not only include current upgrades and issues, but a projection for what will be needed in the future. Input from persons tasked with such mandates are vital to providing the right solutions.
At This Point
A review will be conducted, listing possible solutions for current assets, which might be reallocated or enhanced, improving their efficiency.
Finally, Once All Data is Collected
A comprehensive report will be prepared and provided. This detailed document, including photos, issues, shortcomings, updates, solutions, recommendations, various plans of action, and cost-estimates for design, engineering, product, and installation requirements best suited for your entity’s goals and projections, will remain a vital document to be used for planning, implementation, possible funding, grant requests, and bidding.