Supernova Award Category

The Problem

FLVC began a four-month project to rebrand the design, content, and structure of their website. The major project required collaboration between employees from across the state and consultants from three external firms, as well as a dependence on recommendations and assets from a graphic designer located in another state. It was a complicated undertaking with 18 team members and over 20 stakeholders as well as a tight timeline. 

The Solution

We knew we needed a project management tool that provided the extended team everything needed to get the most out of our resources and quickly launch a successful new website. Projectplace fit all of the requirements for communication, collaboration, project management, document sharing, and task visualization and management. With the combination of the tool as a great virtual ‘home base’ for the project and the guidance of a dedicated, hands-on project lead, the new site launched on time and budget.

The results

Our team especially appreciated the accessibility of the project schedule, and the connection between the schedule and the Kanban boards in Projectplace. Users could more easily identify and resolve potential roadblocks and delays before they impacted the project. The boards quickly gained traction at FLVC.  

In addition, the ability to free team members from project-related email management fatigue has been a huge advantage. Keeping track of every email message sent and received across a project is risky, time-consuming, and places pressure on individuals.  Projectplace provides an accessible and central location for this communication to take place. There is no need to re-create conversations, hunt for the origin of an issue, or explain a problem again and again. It’s all right there in Projectplace.

Metrics

This rebranding work was the second phase of a multi-phase website redesign project.  We began using Projectplace in Phase 2 as a solution to challenges with task management and communication across our large and diverse team. We intended to evaluate Projectplace at the conclusion of the project, with Phase 1 as the baseline for that evaluation.

We delivered Phase 2 on time and within budget, which is strong validation of the Projectplace tool. We were also encouraged to learn that 91% of survey respondents said the team communicated effectively using Projectplace. In addition, a majority said Projectplace is enjoyable, intuitive, and easy to use. 

Additionally, 92% of survey respondents reported that they understood their assignments during the second phase of the project. Only 50% of respondents reported that they understood their assignments in Phase 1. Projectplace clearly illustrated the landscape of work, both ahead of us and behind us, with little room for interpretation.

The Technology

FLVC used Projectplace by Planview, the only product that combines project management and task visualization with document sharing and collaboration. Designed to help organizations get the most of their limited resources, Projectplace has over a million users in more than 170 countries. It’s an ideal solution for team collaboration, virtual project teams and reducing emails to improve team’s productivity.

Disruptive Factor

Projectplace requires active engagement from the whole team – it both allows us to collaborate and to work effectively towards the goal and it requires us to participate. If there are weaknesses, they are easy to identify, thereby challenging the status quo.  When less information is readily available, people can get away with less. Projectplace elevates and engages every member of the team. 

Shining Moment

FLVC is most proud of the 18 team members located in different cities who quickly learned a new technology system, and worked together to successfully create our new website within such a short timeframe. Projectplace helped us adjust, plan and succeed throughout the project. 

We were able to accomodate delays, asset changes, and technological challenges throughout the project because we had a solid plan, a clear channel of communication, and a good rapport.