Kathleen's+Revised+proposal



Kathleen Lepori EDC 667 Stager 6/03/09 Assignment 2 - Revised Budget

**Executive Summary**
//Increasing Institutional Productivity Through Peer-to-Peer Software Support//

In order for WestEd to remain a contemporary organization and maintain a competitive advantage, our company needs to purchase new software for employee desk and laptop computers. Once installed, WestEd’s Institutional Services department (IS) will be faced with the global integration of the newly acquired software. With limited human and physical training resources, it is imperative to find effective ways to improve and build upon the existing process. Getting staff functioning fully and successfully on the new technology can be time-consuming and difficult to maintain. One of the important goals of this proposal is to shift some reliance from IS staff to peer-supported workers. Managing technological change with a flexible process such as a peer supported network enables greater knowledge sharing.
 * Statement of the Problem:**

The proposed intervention will be to distribute training electronically over the corporate network, and institute Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Support Groups throughout the twelve WestEd departments. A case study, using the P2P model, revealed net positive impact. The projections from this study conservatively projects that the resources spent on new technology and methods will be off set and surpassed by the resources saved on the old technology and methods as well as the benefit of the positives generated by the new technology and methods.
 * The Proposed Intervention:**

Trained P2P facilitators can help employees cope with change while acquiring new knowledge and skills. Training will be ongoing via self service using tools such as instant messaging and audio, video, and Web conferencing. The processes for learning and managing knowledge will be to take advantage of individual and collective brain power of WestEd’s dynamic staff. The goal is to create a learning environment that provides, supports, and nurtures a set of expectations, cultural norms, and resources to facilitate and guide the ongoing change process. The Peer-to-Peer Support Group model, previously introduced as this researcher’s action research project, has proven to be an effective and harmonious intervention when learning and transitioning into new technology. Each team member operates within a shared set of values and norms and possesses unique skills, competencies, expertise and capabilities.

According to Papert, building knowledge structures are most effective when the learners are consciously engaged in meaningful activities that can be shared with others. An important influence on the effectiveness of this change process will be the utilization of better real-time communications resources—the P2P support network. This peer-supported system will enable employees to learn more efficiently, solve problems faster and deliver solutions more readily while creating an environment for present and future collaboration. Company-wide training can be accomplished without the need of IT management’s constant involvement. Utilizing the P2P Support model will improving productivity, save employees (and the company) time and will make their training and jobs easier.
 * Overall Effectiveness of the Intervention:**


 * Detailed budget:**

STAFFING BUDGET

Personnel Scope of Work Person Hours Cost (2) IS Staff Train (12) - P2P Facilitators on new software and video conferencing equipment 120/hrs 22,000 SUB TOTAL 22,000

EQUIPMENT BUDGET

ITEM QUANTITY VENDOR PRICE PER UNIT TOTAL COST MS Office 2008 upgrade 500 Office Depot 156.00 78,000 SUB TOTAL 78,000

TOTAL BUDGET TOTALS Staffing 22,000 Software Upgrades 78,000 TOTAL 100,000


 * Budget Justification/Rationale:**

MS Office Suite 2008: Purchase upgrades and install to WestEd employees so that every staff member will have the same latest version software avoiding confusion with document sharing. Part of the budget will be allotted to IS staff to identify high-level users of technology tools used across institution. IS will also aid in identifying program experts in each department/office that will provide ongoing support to peers.

Ongoing, frequent training on the use of newly installed software will be given through webinars using Wimba classroom, video-conferencing, WebEx, etc. Ongoing training and support with the new software and various interactive training technologies will be in place for a period of one year from date of installation.

Budget costs to establish P2P Support Groups in all departments throughout all WestEd offices will be charged to individual program cost codes. Any additional costs resulting from Information Services will be absorbed by WestEd’s indirect fee.