Need

An economic downturn created a need for a series of mass layoffs within a high-profile company. Every potential person who might be included had assets that needed to be accounted for and special payroll requirements that needed to be met. Some data was available in a variety of databases, while other data was not stored electronically. Early requirements for some kind tool to manage this plethora of data had been gathered but a concept needed to be formulated, a design validated and a tool created in time for the first phase of layoffs.

Approach

By working collaboratively with a dedicated internal business team, database networking team and the software development team, we took the requirements gathered and expanded them into a primitive concept for the tool. Taking this concept, we went into the workplace talking with prospective end-users to gather their ideas and feedback. These sessions gave people the chance to share the challenges they were facing with the coming layoffs, the details that they dealt with on a daily basis and what they expected from this type of a tool. The results contributed to a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool and helped reduce workplace stress during a difficult situation.

What this means

When building an internal product, bringing in an outsider to help address sensitive, internal issues can give all of the stakeholders a clear perspective of the relationship between the people involved and your business.

We use methods that resonate with people. By winning people's trust and discovering what matters to them, we take the assumption out of decision-making.