Forum Discussion
Can IC work without SharePoint savvy?
I've seen a few posts on LI recently around the use of SharePoint in IC and associated frustrations. Full disclosure, I'm a diehard advocate of SharePoint but would be the first to admit what it ...
Oh this is so interesting! So, completely agree with what you're saying but I have yet to see this work in practice. Is this something you have seen? If so, would be great to hear more!
In my experience IC and IT are rarely aligned on their respective requirements and limitations. IC have the challenge of reaching the organization across different channels (often for which there is no clear strategy for use), which increasingly includes frontline and remote working audiences. Pitching to the right audience via the right channel is still a real challenge in our hybrid world.
IT in the meantime often outsource their 365 expertise (making it difficult to relationship build) and don't take a consultative approach to requirements gathering. I have often been told something can't be done (when I know it can) either because its assumed I don't have the experience to challenge that or that person doesn't I'm speaking to doesn't have adequate knowledge of 365.
In my experience IC and IT are rarely aligned on their respective requirements and limitations. IC have the challenge of reaching the organization across different channels (often for which there is no clear strategy for use), which increasingly includes frontline and remote working audiences. Pitching to the right audience via the right channel is still a real challenge in our hybrid world.
IT in the meantime often outsource their 365 expertise (making it difficult to relationship build) and don't take a consultative approach to requirements gathering. I have often been told something can't be done (when I know it can) either because its assumed I don't have the experience to challenge that or that person doesn't I'm speaking to doesn't have adequate knowledge of 365.
ALCorbett As @HelloBenTeoh states is always a struggle between the need of IC and the habit of IT to lock things down. But as a consultant working for IC, with an IT background and knowledge about what can be done and also how it should be done it is possible to achieve but you need to be trusted by both sides and that can take time.
The most common issue is the question from IT: Why should we use Viva Engage/Yammer when we already have Teams.
- kvadratmartin the kind of role you describe is absolutely essential; unfortunately much like a unicorn too. That conduit between IT and the wider business who understands all the pain points and bridges the silos is GOLD! - so thank you for sharing some invaluable insights here 🙂
In my experience a channels strategy can clearly articulate what to use which channel for - and when - distinguishing between the different communication requirements. I've always understood Teams to be a better tool for communicating on projects or with your own team on BAU matters; where information is valuable only to the team interacting with it. This could look like document collaboration in draft (before publishing to a more public space), for example.
Viva Engage would have a much broader audience and there is a clear distinction between the two models. But without that strategy, the needs of the comms team will be smoke and mirrors. - I think that question is possibly ok to ask if you are a small organization. But the moment you get bigger then the differences become obvious.
For instance, vast majority of teams are closed, but most communities on Engage are open. Teams is simply not used for cross-organizational knowledge-sharing. I'm writing this with some level of confidence as my company has published what I believe are the largest benchmarking studies of this.
Viva Engage has a set of features which really are great for communities, eg upvoting answers to questions, closing discussions etc etc.
I feel it is a bit like the folks in finance who say "Why do we need Word when we have Excel? I can write text in Excel too!". Yes - you can, but once you get to a certain level of sophistication it just isn't the right tool any more.
