Continuing our series of blog articles coming out of the Interactive Church Conference, today we look at some tips for success in church technology projects.
Let’s face it, a lot of church technology projects – whether it be the development of the church website, a new audio/video system, or whatever – bomb! (Ever been there?) Many either don’t live up to expectations or they don’t get completed at all. In fact, I would hazard a guess that more projects fail than succeed.
But on the bright side, most of the causes of failed tech projects are avoidable. So here are 20 tips for success in church technology projects.
Spiritual
1) Invite God into the process. You are doing this for Him right?
Leadership
2) If you’re the leader, lead and inspire rather than manage
3) Leaders – be there to support your geeks
4) Don’t lead by committee
5) Don’t micromanage
6) Trust your talent
7) Minimize the red tape
Money
8) Focus on doing a few things well.
9) Be cost effective, not cheap.
10) Plan well, create an accurate budget
11) Spend money when required
Talent
12) Identify the right people
13) Pay for talent when required
14) Encourage and grow talent in house
15) Task volunteers to use their gifts
16) Understand volunteers talents
17) Don’t try to do something out of your league
Misc
18) Know your audience. Use surveys. Don’t develop something that doesn’t fit with your culture or people won’t use.
19) Don’t rush. It’s going to take longer than you think.
20) Strive for quality. This will go down on your permanent record.
Which of these jump out at you? What additional tips would you add?
8 Comments
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Good article but I’d add:
Ensure the project lead knows where they need to go and that they are enthusiastic for the project.
I don’t think we’ve encountered a failure in any of our “technology projects” (yet) but that’s because the person at the top is a. enthusiastic for it and b. knows where they need to get too with it. And I’ve been in teh Church for 22yrs and at the forefront of most things technical.
Too often leaders pass on their ideas to someone who is unconvinced by the project or their ability to do it and consequently are setting out to fail in the first place.
Hey Stuart, thanks for the comment. You’re absolutely right. I think that goes hand in hand with 12) Identify the right people.
How do I get my website critiqued?
http://www.firstbaptistbourbon.com
Contact Regina Cain
reginacain@charter.net
Hi Regina, the free website critiques is something we were doing during February (Redesign Month) and are no longer doing. However, we encourage people to post a message in our forums (forums.ourchurch.com) asking other visitors to the forums to critique their site. Or course that really only works if the people who ask for critiques are also willing to critique others’ sites as well.
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I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
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Best Regards Cindy
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