implementing connections in the real world of gore
TRANSCRIPT
W. L. Gore & Associates
Implementing Connections in the real world of Gore:Successes and Pitfalls
Social Connections IVNovember 30th, 2012
W. L. Gore & Associates
About Me
Brian P O’NeillSocial Business & Collaboration SpecialistW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Elkton, Maryland U.S.A.
Fee l free to contact me:boneill@wlgore .com
twitte r.com/one illbp311
linkedin.com/in/one illbp311
W. L. Gore & Associates
W. L. Gore & Associates
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Founded in 1958 Priva te ly he ld
~10,000+ Associa tes
www.gore .com
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
W. L. Gore & Associa tes — Worldwide Loca tions
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
W. L. Gore & Associates
Jus t a handful of the many Gore bus inesses
W. L. Gore & Associates
Yes…we are even on Mars!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Gore is a lready “socia l”!
Power of small teams
No HierarchyNo Bosses
Collabora tion a lways emphas ized
One to OneCommunica tion
Teams organizedaround opportunities
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Connections a t Gore
• Began with small pilot (~200) with Connections 2.5 in 2010
• Decision to move to production in Summer 2011• Production go live with Connections 3.0 in August 2011• Current state
– Upgraded to Connections 4.0 November 17th, 2012– 1,100 users (and growing!)
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Our Connections roll out is focused ongloba l project teams
• Not all associates receive an account• Series of “Tradeshows” to peek business leader interest• Business “pull” rather than IT “push”• All users are required to acknowledge guidelines for use
before an account will be created• Profiles and Networking aspects are not emphasized
– Focus is with Communities
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
“I’m inte res ted in Connections for my team!”
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Tell us about your team
Current tools?Current issues with Collaboration?
How many members?Global?
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Identify Team Champion(s )!
• Create accounts for Team Champions• Setup team community with team champion(s)• Develop a team agreement• Populate with real examples
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Team Champions review with the ir team
• Agreement within the team to proceed– At least 80% of the team should agree to move forward– If agreement is reached, accounts are created for the remainder
of the team• Team determines what training will be needed
– Not mandatory– Training is facilitated with the team using web conferencing.
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Schedule follow up / check in
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Pass iona te Team Championsmake a ll the diffe rence!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
One bad apple can ruin it a ll!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Tra ining is key
Not how you use the tool technically, but how you do something real using the tool!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
You s tink a t Collabora tion+
Connections=
You s till s tink a t Collabora tion
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Live it!Ea t your own dog food.
(Drink your own champagne .)
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Diffe rent teams = diffe rent success
Project Teams; working closely togetherNew teams; no old bad habits
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Shut off old ways if poss ible
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Tags!Teach your users about tags, use the from the start!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
No folder hie ra rchy in file s :Hard for use rs to grasp
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
IT users a re a pa in in the….
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
People find va lue in little things
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Remove barrie rs ; make it easy
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Hire expert Connections adminis tra tor(s )!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Manage use r expecta tions
Connections is not perfectConnections takes work
Connections is not best of breed
But…Connections is pretty darn AWESOME!
© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.