What are the benefits of letting your staff telecommute?

-- article by TechSoup

Working with vendors requires clear communication and expectations, good research, and strong management. These articles may help you develop successful relationships with your technology vendors and learn from the blunders of others.

Below are some general resources for hiring and managing technology staff (many of these are written for a general audience, not specifically targeted to legal aid organizations or even nonprofit organizations):

There are a number of resources available to connect nonprofits with technology consultants:

• TechFinder: Directory of Individuals and Organizations that provide technology services. Part of TechSoup.
• NPower Preview (PDF, see below) is an overview of NPower, which provide high-quality, unbiased, affordable and appropriate technology assistance to other organizations.
• Project Connect
• Where Can I Find Discounted Hardware, Software, Web and Consulting Services? (on Network for Good)
  
  

Technology consultants can be a great resource for legal aid programs who need limited duration assistance or highly specialized skills or where staffing is not wanted or needed.

• Should I Bring In A Consultant?
• How Should I Interview A Consultant?
• Select the Right Technology Vendor
• On Choosing A Language Access Provider (PDF)
• TOWARDS EFFECTIVE CONSULTING: A Self-Assessment Tool for Consultants Who Serve the Nonprofit Community (PDF)
• TechSoup's Articles on Consulting
• TechSoup's Articles on RFPs

Working with Telephone Equipment Vendors
by Joan Kleinberg and Sue Encherman, Northwest Justice Project

No legal services program can survive without vendors. We have become fairly savvy about using them for items such as office supplies, office equipment and books. We are in more dangerous territory when purchasing items with which we have less comfort and familiarity. While we at Northwest Justice Project are not in a position to write the authoritative legal services article on the use of vendors, we can share our recent experience purchasing sophisticated software for our telephone system, with the hope that other programs may learn from our experience.