Microsoft Teams Initiative

This planned project was led and introduced by myself in collaboration with the tech team and design team.

This was introduced because of the pandemic. The change to full remote and hybrid work settings during 2020-2021 required a new spin on how everything was handled.

I initiated and lead this project because of my belief in the importance of employees working in an ecosystem where everythign is fluid, especially in a company setting.

My role project creator, leader, designer, and presenter.

This project was initiated, lead, researched, and presented by myself to stakeholders, owners, and managers.

There were a few issues and problems that I addressed in the pre-planning phase of the project.

One of the main problems that I chose to address in the presentation was training. This was one of the most important factors in an easy transition from into Teams.

Transitioning was a simple task but it could be made very complex if not done in an understandable manner.

My main focus and goal was to incorporate all staff and having everyone on the same page to have an easy and smooth transition without complications.

I used a qualitative research method approach.

Used both remote and on-site data gathering methods

My methods used were mixed methods involving three various types.

1) Interviews 2) Surveys 3) Testing

Designed surveys on which software employees most familiar with and other empathetic question about behavior.

Designed surveys revolving around the thoughts and feelings of employees regarding the switch.

Survey results: 82% familiarity with MS Teams. 75% familiarity with Zoom. 52% familiarity with Google Meets.

Interviews

Scheduled interviews, took notes, and transcribed interviews for data collection.

One on one inteviews with team leads from tech & marketing divisions.

Group interviews with managers.

Moderated and designed questions for participants to voice their opinions on whether the switch was beneficial or not, and suggest alternatives if they don't agree.

Centered around a humanistic and empathetic approach about the pandemic and how the company could make conditions and approaches easier.

Ontological questions involving deep answers capturing employees realities.(ie: What is it like switching from on-site to remote, How do you feel about the pandemic, Do you believe this switch can benefit the employees and the company, What is the best way you believe to implement the switch, Are there any other suggestions you have)

Testing

Small number of people recruited from tech department with experience in all softwares

Tech department created quizzes and questionnaires on remote communication software to guage expertise and skill levels of employees.

This was done to find out which software employees were best familiar with and how to move forward depending on answers and familiarity.

Testing results: Most correct answers were with MS Teams. Average score: 84%.

After collecting data from all the mixed methods. I came to the conclusion that many of the participants involved in the research were fine with the switch to Microsoft Teams but were worried about the training and teaching involed to those not familair with the program.

I created a presentation from all the data collected involving the training that would be needed to create a smooth and easy transition.

The project was presented to owners and managers emphasiszing that a bit of resources, time, and money would need to be invested into the implementation training to have a process that was smooth.

Quotes, interview transcriptions, survey results, & reasons with facts were presented to why the switch was beneficial.

Self-created presentation and graphics presented in a digestible way.

The project was created in a tight scheduled and presented within a tight deadline.

Total time involving project rought draft, pre-planning, planning, research, implementation, and gathering takeaways was within three months.

The solution was the implement Microsoft Teams with trainers. Time, money, and resources were invested into trainers from the tech departments to train corporate employees site-wide on how to best use the new software.

Team leads were trained on-site within 14 days while other employees were trained remotely.

We decided to train team leads extensively and make the proficient in the software so they could help their teams with training also.

93% of the employees preferred the switch to MS Teams and recommended it.

After 90 days of the training we collected feedback results.

Overall feedback was very positive.

100% success and implementation.

The ease of use and ecosystem built fully incorporated with Microsoft softwares was met with lots of positive reception and feedback.

Surprising result: the ecosystem was now built upon fully Microsoft. Windows, Office 365, Outlook, & Teams.

This was the first project I personally created, led, researched, and presented.

I used my background in customer service and IT to approach this initiative.

Being well versed in technology allowed me to come up with a quick solution in the middle of a pandemic that we had not seen before.

I used my experience taking sociology and psychology classes to understand the human approach to this project.

I would ask everyone questions about their personal feelings about the pandemic and how they were handling it and how they felt about the transition from on-site to remote.

I would start with a sympathetic and empathetic approach with the questions and research to better understand users and employees and their situations.

I learned that a good UX researcher always trys to relate and understand their target and incorporate that into their approach.