An Ms Teams extension enables workers to be more connected during
remote work
OVERVIEW
Bloom Time is a fictional Ms Team's extension for desktop devices that enables workers to be more connected to their teams while working remotely.
FRAMEWORK
& SKILLS
In the UX UI bootcamp, we were given three weeks to work in groups of two or three on a project that combines our user experience, user interface, and front-end development skills for for any modality.
Our group was given the choice a (local/global) cause and execute a high-fidelity clickable prototype (Figma/Adobe XD/InVision) and code one to three responsive webpages through FE development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript or Webflow).
Key Skills
Role
UX Research
Ideation
Sketching
Visual Design
Prototyping
Coding
UX/UI Designer
Copy Writer
Project Manager
Team
Tools
Figma
Trello
GitHub
Bootstrap
Zoom
Olivera
Hanifer
Amber
CONTEXT
Within the context of Covid, the initial brainstorming session explored the pandemic's effect on mental wellbeing, office workers and families. We focused on workers' challenges while adjusting to remote work.
Fun Fact: Succulent plants are a trend among office workers.
-
What are the unique challenges of working remotely?
- What are the pros and cons of working remotely?
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What tools can facilitate and streamline remote work?
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Since the start of the pandemic, office workers have had to adjust to working remotely. There is a sense of disconnect given the lack of physical interaction that an office environment used to provide. In addition, working from home affects workers' schedules, such as tending to children and other home tasks.
How might we provide a solution in order for avoid unnecessary interruptions and feel more connected to our teams while working remotely?
By developing a daily habit of inputting their schedules, workers are rewarded with a digital blooming plant.
🙁🙁🙁
THE PROBLEM
The extension has two different users: employees and managers. Both employees and managers benefit from seeing the team schedule.
😐😐😐
USERS
The extension has two different users: employees and managers. Both employees and managers benefit from seeing the team schedule.
😀😀😀
PROJECT GOALS
Through discovery and research, my goal was to define a problem and find a solution that enables workers to be better connected to their teams while working remotely.
WHAT I DID
My role in this team was spearheading the research, definition and final solution. I worked collaboratively with Hanifer and Amber to ensure they had an equal chance to contribute.
UX DESIGNER
I spearheaded the UX research plan & interactive prototype.
VISUAL DESIGNER
I created the logo and the design system.
PROJECT MANAGER
I led daily stand ups & managed the Trello board.
PRODUCT STRATEGIST
I wrote the marketing copy and came up with the Bloom Time name.
SCOOPE &
CONSTRAINTS
Within a short timeframe, each member’s individual strengths were leveraged into order to complete the project successfully and on time.
REMOTE WORK
Working remotely we conducted all meetings through collaborating on Zoom, including screen recording, screen sharing.
INDIVIDUAL SKILLS
At the start of the project we did a skills audit in order for each member to contribute with their specific skills.
TIME FRAME
Managing a 3 week sprint required all members to deliver efficiently & on time.
PANDEMIC
Working during a pandemic, members supported each other during an emotionally difficult time.
DESIGN
PROCESS
I utilized the DOUBLE DIAMOND design model to have a framework for validating my design decisions through research. I began the process with user research and ended with validation.
Repeat
Test Prototypes
Usability Bug Review
Feedback Review
Task Flows
User Flows
Clickable
Prototype
Validate
Discover
Define
Empathy Map
User Personas
Story Board
Sketches
User Research
Market Research
Understanding
Context
Develop
COMPETITIVE
ANALYSIS
The analysis of competitors revealed that Ms Teams & Zoom are the most common work platform.
SLACK
-
Strength - App is accessible from many platforms
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Weakness - Single function
DISCORD
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Strength - Allows user to connect via many types of media - text, video
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Weakness - Only appeals to a certain group - gamers
ZOOM
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Strength - Allows for video calls that allow breakaway rooms
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Weakness - Free users have limited features
MS TEAMS
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Strength - Shared meeting calendar & background to make users feel more physically connected
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Weakness - MS is PC based/lacking iOS support
RESEARCH
GOALS & METHODS
RESEARCH QUESTION
I defined the research question and objectives to help discover how workers adapt to remote work and what role technology plays in this context.
Can communication tools lead to higher productivity while working remotely?
OBJECTIVE #1
What are the key considerations for getting more connected to colleagues while working remotely?
OBJECTIVE #2
How does a company provide support for their employees to feel more connected during remote work?
6
INTERVIEWS
To understand user goals and needs each member conducted 2 interviews with the group of potential users who use Ms Teams.
12
SURVEY PARTICIPANTS
In order to validate assumptions regarding remote work Amber developed questions and summarized the findings.
6
USABILITY TESTS
To validate the prototypes each member tested 2 participants in order to check for usability bugs and to successfully complete tasks.
💡
TAKEAWAY
Asking the right questions through the UX research to understand who the users are. What are their pain points, wants and needs?
USER
RESEARCH
THE 5 WHYS METHOD
PARTICIPANTS
INTERVIEW METHOD
We needed to better understand how communication tools impact productivity and connectivity among remote workers.
User research interviews would allow us to go deeper with each participant and ask those essential follow up questions that can lead to the “why” of people’s behaviors using the 5 Whys Method.
The team conducted 6 interviews in total, 4 of which were with employees, and 2 managers. Each team member conducted 2 interviews and they were completed in the span of a few days.
Both interview and survey participants were pre-screened for remote office work given that the goal was to interview office workers who had transitioned to remote work. Participants were recruited from our team’s network.
All interviews were performed remotely due to Covid restrictions. Interviews were scheduled in advance and conducted over Zoom.
USER SURVEY
The survey data revealed that both managers and employees feel the need for more transparency about the work they do remotely.
KEY INSIGHTS
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Staff is unaccounted for during working hours.
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Working from home is harder than going into the office.
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Staff cannot get the answers that they want, calling colleagues or relying heavily on emails
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Staff is feeling stressed, as they have a larger workload at the home office
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Expectations for availability have changed
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Apps like MS Teams has become integral for getting work done
THESE WERE SOME MAJOR PAIN POINTS FROM THE RESEARCH I WANTED TO CALL OUT
PAIN POINT 1
"When working remotely you don't know when coworkers are available so there's a sense of uncertainty."
PAIN POINT 2
"There are many ways of reaching coworkers but it takes more effort."
PAIN POINT 3
"Not having coworkers in a shared physical space makes me feel less connected to the team."
💡
TAKEAWAY
Given that there were no business constraints as this was a fictional project, thinking critically was needed in order to narrow the scope & complete the project within a 3 week timeline.
SCOPE CHANGE
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Solution 1: Adding video feature to chat to an existing platform such as Ms Teams
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Solution 2: Time tracking to populate team schedule and for timesheets on a new platform
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Solution 3: Time tracking to populate team schedule only on a new platform
FEATURE MAPPING & PRODUCT STRATEGY
Prioritizing features revealed that syncing team calendars in order to know coworkers availability
HIGH VALUE TO CUSTOMER
Syncing calendars was easier
There was an easy way to track my team's progress
I could see what my team is doing remotely
Social virtual meetings with cocktails, no work talk
LOW COST
UX HYPOTHESIS
Bloom Time offers the possibility to view a team’s schedule. This allows users working remotely to feel more connected to their teams and be more accountable for their work.
In order to populate the team schedule, users are required to fill out their daily time tables, and in turn get rewarded by a growing digital plant.
USER FLOWS
With having two Use Cases, similarly emerged two User Flows.
FLOW 1: INPUT TIME
FLOW 2: TEAM SCHEDULE
TITLE OF THE CALLOUT BLOCK
LO FIDELITY
PROTOTYPE
TITLE OF THE CALLOUT BLOCK
LESSONS LEARNED
As a fictional project the absence of stakeholder interviews and real constraints led to user research findings that were too wide in scope. The lesson was the need to narrow down the scope earlier on in the process.