TCSF Cost-Benefit Analysis Survey

Introduction:

This Cost Benefit Analysis Survey is for all Tahoe Basin Wide-Area Network (TBWAN) members. We intend to use your thoughtful responses to this survey to assess progress made with information technologies for the Tahoe-Truckee region, to satisfy the NTIA grant requirements and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of current and envisioned delivery strategies for these technologies.

Technology Utilization:

1a. Which technology components are you currently using?

[ ] email

[ ] file or data transfers, i.e., attaching files to email

[ ] listserve subscriptions

[ ] browsing World Wide Web (i.e., Internet research)

[ ] chats

[ ] online discussion forums

[ ] downloading files (FTP)

[ ] usenet participation

[ ] web site maintenance, i.e., webmastering

1b. Which technology components does the organization use? (including other staff)

[ ] email

[ ] file or data transfers, i.e., attaching files to email

[ ] listserve subscriptions

[ ] browsing World Wide Web (i.e., Internet research)

[ ] chats

[ ] online discussion forums

[ ] downloading files (FTP)

[ ] usenet participation

[ ] web site maintenance, i.e., webmastering

1c. How do these technologies help your organization?

Obstacles:

2a. What obstacles has your organization faced in implementing these technologies?

[ ] inadequate staff time

[ ] lack of equipment

[ ] financial barriers

[ ] lack of infrastructure (can't find ISP with local dial-up access)

[ ] problems with ISP reliability

[ ] difficulties with connectivity (i.e.. speed, bandwidth, traffic, busy signals)

[ ] learning curve difficulties for staff (technical obstacle)

[ ] management does not use technology (organizational obstacle)

2b. If you encountered an obstacle in using the technology, please identify it and describe its effects on your organization.

2c. If the obstacles can be overcome, can you see the benefit to your organization in using this technology?

Costs:

3a. Direct Expenses: In round "ballpark" figures, what is your investment in hardware, software and training?

[ ] $0 - $500

[ ] $500 - $1,000

[ ] $1,000 - $2,000

[ ] $2,000 - $5,000

[ ] $5,000 +

3b. Indirect Expenses: On the average, how much time does you staff spend per week applying these technologies?

[ ] 0 - 5 Hours

[ ] 5 - 10 Hours

[ ] 10 - 20 Hours

[ ] 20 - 40 Hours

[ ] 40+

3c. On average, how many visits does your staff make to Tahoe-related web sites (i.e.. TCSF homepage) per week?

[ ] 0 - 5

[ ] 5 - 10

[ ] 10 - 20

[ ] 20+

3d. Have you noticed any negative impacts (such as loss of productivity) resulting from using these technologies? If so, please explain.

[ ] yes

[ ] no

Benefits:

4a. In general, does your organization benefit from these technologies? If so, please explain or check examples below.

[ ] communication via email

[ ] contacts made via email and/or web site

[ ] orders generated/placed via email and/or web site

[ ] requests for your email address and/or URL (Internet address)

[ ] other

4b. Have you publicized your organization by using Internet technologies? If so, how?

[ ] yes

[ ] no

4c. Is your staff more efficient with communications as a result of using the Internet?

[ ] yes

[ ] no

4d. Has staff gained knowledge and expertise through access to information (research) on the Internet?

[ ] yes

[ ] no

4e. How many new clients/contacts do you have as a result of your web presence?

[ ] 0 - 5

[ ] 6 - 10

[ ] 11 - 20

[ ] 21 - 50

[ ] 50+

4f. Has your organization received revenue in the past year as a result of implementing these technologies (i.e.. new clients, sales increases, direct sales from web, etc.)? If yes, how much?

[ ] No

[ ] $0 - $500

[ ] $500 - $1,000

[ ] $1,000 - $5,000

[ ] $5,000 - $10,000

[ ] $10,000 - $50,000

[ ] $50,000+

4g. Is there any noticeable reduction/savings in your postage or long distance costs (phone or fax)? What is your guesstimate of this amount per month?

[ ] $0 - $25

[ ] $25 - $50

[ ] $50 - $100

[ ] $100 - $500

[ ] $500+

4h. Do you check your web statistics? (TCSF may supply your web statistics if necessary.)

[ ] yes

[ ] no

4i. How many hits do you get per month?

[ ] Hits per month

[ ] Homepage accesses per month

[ ] Unique sites served

4j. Does this technology help your organization to meet it's mission or business strategy? If so, how?

[ ] yes

[ ] no

Next Steps:

As the grant period comes to a close we will need to decide what the "next steps" will be for current and potential TBWAN members and determine the role of TCSF for the future.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been drafted and is available on-line at:

The objective of the RFP is to allow TCSF and it's TBWAN partners to find the optimum solution for their Internet Service Provider/Web Server needs. TCSF is issuing the RFP to establish firm pricing and service offerings. Pricing will be determined based on the number of TBWAN members that decide to continue efforts with TCSF.

5a. What information technology services do you plan to continue?

[ ] Internet service provider (ISP)

[ ] web server (keeping your web site online)

[ ] webmastering and full site maintenance (updating your web site)

[ ] other

[ ] none

5b. Do you want to be included as we search for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for "tahoe.org"?

[ ] yes

[ ] no

5c. What role do you see for TCSF?

[ ] information technology consultant

[ ] webmastering and full site maintenance services

[ ] data clearinghouse

[ ] other

5d. What will you budget for these services?

[$ ] Internet service provider (ISP)

[$ ] web server

[$ ] webmaster service

[$ ] full site maintenance

[$ ] other

[$ ] total (maximum)