Measure twice...Cut once
Yes, you read the title correctly...this is my first post and I wanted to catch your attention!
My husband and I occasionally tackle home improvement projects together. I have the vision. He brings the vision to life. He also likes to take shortcuts that can lead to trouble. So I have to remind him (usually in the truck on the way to Lowe's after the crown moulding is cut too short and we need to replace it) to "measure twice and cut once."
So what does home improvement have to do with The Raiser's Edge? You can apply the same philosophy to how you manage your data and add new processes.
Let's say your organization is in the planning phase of a capital campaign. Your VP for Advancement has a vision. She wants to track prospective feasiblity study candidates through the life of the campaign. You are responsible for bringing her vision to life. So measure twice...cut once.
Measure Once - Design the process. You need to figure out the details. What information do you want to capture and how do you want to use it so that it will meet the objectives set by your VP? Think about what you need to get out of Raiser's Edge before you put information in. Set up the process based on those needs.
Measure Twice - Test the process. You designed your process, so now you want to make sure it works. Use your sample database. Add the details of your design - the information you want to track - to Bob's record. Make Bob Hernandez a feasibility study prospect. Create attributes, add code table entries, run reports and queries, create an export, send Bob a letter. Test every aspect of your design from identifying Bob as a feasibility study prospect, to sending him an invitation for the interview, to scheduling the meeting, to asking him to be your campaign chair, to soliciting him for a leadership gift and so on.
Cut Once - Implement the process. You designed your process. You tested your design. Now it's time to roll it out and enter data in your live database. You should have no worries. You measured twice and will make the first cut a success. The vision is realized.
Next post...."oooaaahh, Newman!"