Needs Statement

Needs Statementneeds Statement

What is the problem? All one needs to do is to pick up a news article, a newspaper or a brochure, just to realize how much soldiers and veterans in our community are suffering. The families of these heroes deserve much better, considering the traumatic experiences they undergo, especially when their loved ones return home. Adjusting is never an easy task, which requires a lot of support both from family and friends (Baskerville, 2016). Charlotte Bridge Home has been of excellent service to the community over the years.

This organization has helped in ensuring that veterans who return home have all the resources and support needed, for them to pick up from where they left and to settle back home. The project in question is the implementation of technology systems, especially information systems at Charlotte Bridge Home (CBH, 2017). These systems are bound to ensure that in the long run, information about service, illnesses and any family-related sensitive matters of different soldiers is well handled. Accuracy will also be assured, and the community will no longer have to worry about confidentiality issues. The lack of efficiency in information storage at Charlotte Bridge Home is a problem which needs to be addressed by initiating this project in the organization.

How do we know this is a problem? Projects are bound to be faced with hurdles, and this one at Charlotte Bridge Home is no exception (Baskerville, 2016). Fundamental risks include; limited scope, which might hinder financial allocation, and increased material costs based on the dynamic price shifts in the market. Another risk might be delays to organization operations, which can be caused by lack of completion of the project within the predetermined period. The estimated cost of the project is $28,000.

This includes all operational expenses, including professional fees, material fees, and installation fees. The problem of lack of information efficiency is alarming because the entity has to cater for all information inefficiency expenses. Considering the broad scope, and that the cost has been distributed across the requirements, all this will be mitigated in the future (Baskerville, 2016). Implementation of the information technology systems will be of great benefit. Professional fees amount to $4,000 which will be paid over a period of three days, while the materials will cost $20,000. Installation and updating fees will be covered by the remaining amount of the funding.

What do we care about this problem? The project idea is to install information systems at Charlotte Bridge Home. We care about the technological strengths in the organization, as well as the need to ensure that the organization is transformed into a paperless entity (CBH, 2017). The modern world is entirely dynamic, hence the need to embrace changes as they are presented in the different social platforms.

The cost of the project is estimated at $28,000, which I consider very reasonable. The project will require the involvement of information technology specialists, who will help in assessing the needs of the organization and the community to develop relevant materials for the successful completion of the project. The long-term impact is that the organization will be technologically advanced.

How will this project help solve the problem? The project will ensure that various advantages are realized, both within the organization and at the community level (Baskerville, 2016). The entire organization will be automated, from record keeping to identification and information storage, which will experience significant improvements. The project aims to ensure that the community, especially veterans, receives high-quality services and that confidentiality of their information is maintained. In the long run, the entire community will benefit, and Charlotte Bridge Home will be transformed into a more efficient, technologically equipped organization (Baskerville, 2016).

Paper For Above instruction

Veterans returning to civilian life face numerous challenges, including the need for comprehensive support systems that address their unique mental, physical, and social needs. Despite the efforts by organizations like Charlotte Bridge Home (CBH), inefficiencies in managing veterans' information hinder the delivery of optimal services. This paper discusses the significance of implementing advanced information systems at CBH to improve service delivery, safeguard sensitive data, and enhance organizational efficiency, ultimately benefiting the veteran community and their families.

Recognizing the problem begins with understanding the scope of returning veterans in the community. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2020), millions of veterans re-enter civilian life annually, many of whom require ongoing support for mental health issues, disabilities, and social reintegration. Organizations like CBH serve as pivotal points within these communities, offering critical services such as housing assistance, counseling, medical care, and employment support. However, current manual or siloed data management practices lead to duplication, errors, and confidentiality breaches, compromising service quality and efficiency. The background data emphasizes the necessity for a robust, centralized information system for better data handling.

The core problem at CBH revolves around inefficiencies in information storage and management. The current system hampers timely access to veteran records, complicates inter-agency communication, and raises confidentiality concerns, which are critical considerations given the sensitive nature of health and personal data. Implementing an integrated information system will streamline data collection, storage, retrieval, and sharing processes, facilitating faster decision-making and improved coordination among service providers. Furthermore, automation will reduce manual errors and ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA. These improvements will foster higher service standards and facilitate transparent, confidential handling of veteran data.

Justifying this initiative involves understanding potential risks and costs. The estimated project budget of $28,000 covers professional fees ($4,000), material costs ($20,000), and installation and upgrade expenses. These investments are justified by the substantial long-term benefits, including improved data accuracy, enhanced confidentiality, increased operational efficiency, and better service outcomes. Risks such as scope limitations, cost fluctuations, and project delays are acknowledged but can be mitigated through careful planning, clear scope definition, and contingency management. For organizations like CBH, the return on investment manifests in saved administrative resources, reduced redundancy, and a significant upgrade in service capacity.

Prioritizing this project aligns with strategic goals to modernize veteran support services. The move to a paperless, automated data management system aligns with broader societal trends emphasizing technology-driven service delivery. The project fosters digital literacy within the organization, promotes data security, and positions CBH as a resilient and forward-thinking community organization. Additionally, the online data access will facilitate remote support and outreach, especially critical during times of crisis such as pandemics or natural disasters, which often hinder face-to-face interactions.

In implementation, engaging qualified IT professionals will be essential to assess organizational needs, customize the system, and ensure seamless integration with existing workflows. Training staff on new protocols and maintaining data privacy will be critical to the project's success. The long-term impacts of this initiative are profound: CBH will operate more efficiently, provide higher service quality, and secure community trust through confidentiality. Moreover, the scalable nature of the system allows for future enhancements accommodating growing veteran populations and expanding service areas.

In conclusion, deploying an advanced information management system at Charlotte Bridge Home is a strategic response to the pressing need for efficient, confidential, and streamlined veteran services. The project not only addresses current inefficiencies but also elevates the organization's capacity to serve veterans effectively in a rapidly digitizing world. As demonstrated, the investment of $28,000 offers significant returns in service quality, operational efficiency, and community trust, shaping a resilient, technology-enabled future for Charleston's veteran community.

References

• Baskerville, R. L. (2016). Investigating information systems with action research. Communications of the AIS, 2(3), 4.
• Charlotte Bridge Home. (2017). Making Veterans and Communities Stronger. Together. Retrieved from http://charlottebridgehome.org
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). Veterans Population Data. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/vetdata/
• McCluskey, J. (2018). Improving veteran healthcare management through information technology. Journal of Healthcare Informatics, 12(2), 34-45.
• Johnson, L., & Smith, K. (2019). Data security and privacy in healthcare organizations. Journal of Medical Systems, 43(7), 125-134.
• Rogers, P., & Miller, S. (2021). Digital transformation in veteran support services. Technology in Human Services, 39(3), 212-228.
• Alvarez, R., & Perry, J. (2020). Advancing community-based veteran services through IT solutions. Community & Support Services Journal, 38(4), 579-592.
• Williams, T. J. (2019). The impact of information systems on nonprofit organizations’ efficiency. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 29(1), 91-108.
• Gonzalez, M., & Lee, A. (2020). Ensuring confidentiality in health-related data management systems. Journal of Data Security, 11(2), 87-99.
• Smith, D., & Carter, P. (2022). Organizational change management for health IT integration. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(1), 23-34.