Peer to Peer Magazine

28 PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF ILTA | FALL 2016 Geing Smart with a Lean and Agile Intranet Strategy CASE STUDIES We have learned, sometimes the hard way, that it is beer to engage end users –– our lawyers, support staff and clients –– in the discovery and development of major technology projects to beer ensure success. A Mission and a Project With the client-driven mentality front and center and the perspective that large-scale IT projects are actually "business solutions," the firm launched a practice innovation department (PID), which I spearhead. The PID works closely with the firm's lawyers, staff and clients across numerous administrative departments and practice areas to identify, plan, develop and implement innovative technologies, systems and processes that increase efficiency, profitability and client value. Our main mission: Use a Lean management and Agile business approach to development, where the voices of the customers and their underlying needs drive innovations. Keeping in line with our mission to drive innovation, the firm's intranet portal was in need of a major upgrade, which was an ideal project for the PID. As part of our strategic portal planning process and bid for cross-departmental buy-in, we looked closely at: » How our professionals are working » How they consume and share information » What type of files, information and resources to which they need instant access » How we can package and present this to assist them in beer serving the firm's clients Our existing intranet portal presented the following challenges: » Old Technology: The firm was relying on aging SharePoint 2003 portal technology to solve new communication challenges and struggling to embrace innovations in content marketing, knowledge management (KM), search, collaboration and the emergence of social networks. » Garbage In, Garbage Out: The firm's portal had become a dumping ground for outdated information, much of which was also siloed in other databases, keeping it from becoming users' trusted go-to information resource. » Consistently Inconsistent UI/UX: Every portal page looked different, with no consistency in Last summer, the partnership board of Stewart McKelvey announced the appointment of Lydia Bugden to the position of CEO and managing partner. Right from the outset of her tenure, she espoused a "client service first" mentality, including how the firm approached innovation, technology projects and end user buy-in. by Paul Saunders Getting Smart with a Lean and Agile Intranet Strategy

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