Technology by itself is often little more than an expensive toy. In order to achieve the promised benefit, you must first clearly define your reason for investing in technology. Although this will invariably lead to a multi-faceted response, at the core there is really only one reason: technology makes more things possible. The realm of expanded possibilities is the result of two capacities of technology. The first is the dynamic of increased efficiency. While many things can be done without the use of technology, they can often be done much more efficiently with it. These gains in efficiency not only improve the processes in which they are used but also enable the doing of more things.

• Improving the utilization of scarce resources will expand the possibilities by making things more affordable.
• Improving the productivity of those same resources will expand the possibilities by making things more timely.

The second capacity of technology is the domain of improved effectiveness. Ofttimes, processes that become more timely suddenly become worthwhile. Reports pertaining to individual student performance are only useful if available with sufficient notice to effect a prescriptive response. This is technically a function of improved efficiency as well, but technology increasingly demonstrates an efficacy to achieve results that extend far beyond what can legitimately be viewed through this lens. It is this capacity of technology to exceed limitations in an exponential manner that opens the door to unbounded possibilities.

Technology today is capable of most anything you can envision for it, and we’re only at the knee of an exponential growth curve that will shatter all expectations of what’s possible. The very nature of networks and computing and how technology is used is changing every day. Experts estimate that the computing power of a super computer today is roughly equivalent to that of a human brain. They predict that by 2049 a $1,000 personal computer will have the processing capacity of the entire human race. Are you ready?

Our schools are teaming with technology. Internet use is everywhere. Our business departments run on computers. Our labs are full too. Email is considered an absolute essential for most, and productivity applications are ubiquitous. We have networks and firewalls and unified messaging and teach technology too. So what are the specifics behind your investment? What are these networks really for? Why do you have all those computers? Are you interested in simply meeting requirements? Perhaps you just feel that there’s a mandatory level of technology that you’re obliged to support. There is obviously all that State reporting, and the students do need some exposure — after all, it is the 21 st century . . .

Or maybe you’re interested in using technology as the force multiplier that it’s meant to be. Maybe you can see the difference that technology can make in the quality of education given to the students who depend on you. Maybe you understand that technology can easily cut process costs by a third or more and still get jobs done in less time. If the thought of working better, faster, smarter appeals to you, then you owe it to yourself to set about the work of making it happen.

Make no mistake about it, technology is a strategic asset. Once you truly understand why you've invested in technology in the first place, it'll be time to map out your strategy for achieving the results you desire. As with any other such asset, you’ll need to involve all stakeholders and set strategic goals and objectives and ensure that they are aligned with those of your organization as a whole. You’ll need to prepare a plan, manage the implementation, establish controls, reports, and metrics, and most importantly – reap the benefits.