maintaining community in a virtual workplace presenters: timothy keenan, president & founder,...
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Maintaining Community in a Maintaining Community in a Virtual WorkplaceVirtual Workplace
Presenters:Presenters: Timothy Keenan, President & Founder, Timothy Keenan, President & Founder, HPTiHPTi Michael Lacey, CEO/President, Digineer Michael Lacey, CEO/President, Digineer Moderator:Moderator: Diane Stoneman, Director of Consulting & Diane Stoneman, Director of Consulting & Training, Training, Winning Workplaces Winning Workplaces
© 2008 Winning Workplaces. May not be reproduced or distributedwithout expressed written permission of Winning Workplaces.
Founded in 2001 by co-owners of Fel-Pro, an auto manufacturer nationally recognized as a leader for progressive workplace practices.
Nonprofit committed to helping small/midsize organizations build healthy, innovative and productive work environments.
Triple bottom line: Business, People, Community.
About Winning WorkplacesAbout Winning Workplaces
Consulting and TrainingOnline Clearinghouse
About Winning WorkplacesAbout Winning Workplaces
Workplace Recognition
Project
Top Small Workplaces Top Small Workplaces CompetitionCompetition
In collaboration with In collaboration with The Wall Street The Wall Street JournalJournal
2007 Winners profiled: 2007 Winners profiled: WSJ.com/EntrepreneurWSJ.com/Entrepreneur
2007 TSW Report @ 2007 TSW Report @ WinningWorkplaces.orgWinningWorkplaces.org
2008 Top Small Workplaces underway2008 Top Small Workplaces underway
Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal announces October announces October 13 13
TSW Conference October 14 & 15TSW Conference October 14 & 15
Alaska Wildland AdventuresBarclay Water ManagementCorporate Ink Cowden Associates Inc.Exactech, Inc.FRCH Design WorldwideGentle Giant Moving Co. Guerra DeBerry Coody HealthwiseNRG Systems, Inc.Phelps County BankPoint B Solutions Group, LLPReflexite CorporationRestek CorporationSummit Aviation
Top Small WorkplacesTop Small Workplaces 20072007 Top Small Workplace Top Small Workplace WinnersWinners
Flexibility: sign of a winning Flexibility: sign of a winning workplaceworkplace
13 out of 15 Top Small Workplaces winners offer flexible work options
Tele-commuting most prevalent arrangement
2007 SHRM study2007 SHRM study
Out of 600 firms, 56% offer some form of tele-commuting; increase from 51% in 2006.
21% of companies let at least some workers telecommute full time; up from 19% in 2006
33% let some employees work from home on part-time basis; up from 26%
48% allow telecommuting on an ad hoc basis
.
Telework Coalition Telework Coalition ReportReport
Main drivers behind the trend
– 1990’s driven by Internet technology– Better workplace balance & job
satisfaction– Business continuity– More recent concern about fuel costs– Significant savings on real estate,
utilities, etc
How do you maintain strong How do you maintain strong communication channels and a communication channels and a
sense of community when sense of community when employees work virtually and employees work virtually and
seldom see one another?seldom see one another?
But – here’s the rubBut – here’s the rub
Today’s agendaToday’s agenda
Two stories of leaders with a virtual Two stories of leaders with a virtual
workforceworkforce
Philosophies and practices Philosophies and practices
Impact on business and workforceImpact on business and workforce
Lessons learnedLessons learned
Questions from audienceQuestions from audience
Featured LeadersFeatured Leaders
Timothy KeenanTimothy KeenanPresident & FounderPresident & FounderHPTiHPTi
Information Technology Information Technology Reston, VAReston, VA
Over 325 employeesOver 325 employees
2006 Best Boss2006 Best Boss
Michael Lacey Michael Lacey CEO/President CEO/President DigineerDigineer
Technology Consulting Plymouth, MN
95 employees
2006 Best Boss
Timothy KeenanPresident & Founder
HPTi
HPTi’s Core ValuesHPTi’s Core Values
Great Team: we work with bright, driven, and creative people
Mutual Respect: we respect each member of the team and the value of their contributions
Career Focus: we invest in our team members’ careers as they invest and grow within the firm
Client Commitment: we make a difference for and through our clients
Integrity: our word is our commitment
“These are our shared values and form the foundation of our firm.”
HPTi’s VisionHPTi’s Vision
What: HPTi is where we build today, the “Knowledge Leaders” of tomorrow.
Why: Build an innovative learning environment where all the IT talent in our industry aspires to be.
How: This environment is characterized by exciting work, learning, leadership, culture and coaching.
What we are aboutWhat we are about
If it protects the safety of this nationor the men and women who wear thecloth of this nation, whether that threat is drugs, terrorists, foreign enemies ormother nature HPTi is at the leadingedge of the systems used to advancethe understanding of those threats.”
…Tim Keenan
HPTi’s BusinessHPTi’s Business
HPTi’s CustomersHPTi’s Customers Air Force Weather Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
National Security Agency
Army Research Laboratory
Dept. of Defense
Air Force Research Laboratory
Naval Research Laboratory
Corps of Engineers
Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
• Forecast Systems Lab.
• Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Environmental Protection Ag.
Sandia National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
National Institute of Health
Drug Enforcement Administration
Dept. of Homeland Security
HPTi’s HPTi’s “Team of One”“Team of One”
17 years in Federal Advanced Technology Headquarters in Reston, VA; Offices nation-wide Over 325 Employees $74 Million in est. 2008 Annual Revenues; Profitable every yr in operation Over 90% of business from repeat clients 85% of Personnel have Security Clearances CMMI Level III Certified SPQA Plaque of Excellence Awardee 2006, 2007, 2008 CARE Award Recipient 2007 Featured Top 5 fastest growing firms in PCI 500 Index National Capital Ethics 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
“ HPTi builds the people who build the systems that make America safe.”
What we value mostWhat we value most
Exciting WorkExciting Work
Open CommunicationsOpen Communications
HPTi UniversitHPTi University (Leadership & In house Training)y (Leadership & In house Training)
Employee BenefitsEmployee Benefits
Rewards and RecognitionRewards and Recognition
RecreationRecreation
Community ServiceCommunity Service
HPTi Programs & ActivitiesHPTi Programs & ActivitiesBenefits
– Education (bonuses)Paid CertificatesPaid Ph.D., Masters
– Health, Dental and Eye– Insurance– Profit Sharing 401k– Vacation:15- 20- 25 days– Paid Parking or Metro Pass
Rewards and Recognition– Spot Awards: Star, Pride &
Knowledge Leader Coin of Excellence
– Quarterly: Hero & Customer Appreciation and $25 Lands End
– Annual: Customer Advocacy, Employee of Year, Leadership, Technical, Community Service
– Referral Awards• Any referral $ bonus• 1 ticket in gift program
Celebrations– St. Patrick’s Day (CEO
house)– Annual Awards Black Tie – 1/4 All Hands Meeting – Annual Trade Show– 1/4 Promotion Dinners– Wkly Happy Hours – Win Parties
Recreation– Sponsored sports team
Frizbee, SoccerFootball, SoftballBasketball
– Employee Golf Tourney FallSpringField Sites
– Events• Ball games• Skiing, Hiking• Bus Trip to NYC
Open Communications– Transformation Team– Q&A– Discussion Forum– NewsFlash– Bi-Weekly Gram– Monthly Columns
Leadership Training– Leaders of Tomorrow– Leaders of Today– Senior Leaders Training – Executive Coaching
In-house Training– PM– Proposal Development– Leadership– Friends & Family Mktg– Writing for Understanding– Learning Café
Community Service– Corporate Sponsorships
(30 Youth Teams to date)– Community Service
Committee
HPTi-University HPTi-University Web Portal Education SystemWeb Portal Education System
Lists individual records of all courses- Mandatory: Ethics, Leadership, Harassment
- Career Enhancing: Program Mgt; Proposal Development &
Professional Development
Link to Outlook Calendar to schedule courses & sends reminders
Lay out next steps to promotion and offered courses
Links to HPTi Asset Library (Knowledge Repository) for artifacts from previous classes or classes
Discussion Forum to suggest future topics
Communication ChannelsCommunication Channels
Monthly Newsletter (NewsFlash)
Future looking to podcasting
2nd Life Site
Discussion Forum – anonymous
Q&A Board – post questions & get 48-hr response
Transformation Team – volunteer members from all parts of the firm discuss ideas for improvement
Regular Employee Surveys
Best Places to Work – Four surveys annually
CEO Touch PointsCEO Touch Points
Presidential Lunches
Presidential Bi-Weekly Gram
Monthly CEO article: direction, goals, status, vision
Birthday Message – personalized email from CEO
Anniversary Message
Welcome Message
Comprehensive Orientation
Hoteling: Make people feel welcomeHoteling: Make people feel welcome
• Every employee has two drawer file cabinet on wheels with a handle like rolling luggage.
• Enter HPTi facility, check in with receptionist and she assigns desk and routes phone
• The desk has a docking station, phone and place for cabinet to roll under the desk
The effect: within minutes you are at home with a desk that is yours for the time you
are in facility…You feel welcome!
Streamline ProcessesStreamline Processes
Electronic Timesheets – Unanet product • Manager authorize charging to project and approve time
regardless of physical location
• Time linked to corp. accounting and billing
• Capable of scheduling for 12 months in future
HPTi Finance System (HiFi)• Forecasting System for future work
• Allows input from any physical location
• Forecast 18 months in future and links to timesheet system for single point of data entry
Recognition and DevelopmentRecognition and Development
Promotions• Promotions hosted at a dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse near
Corporate Headquarters
• For employees outside Wash D.C. we either fly you down for the ceremony or take the CEO and your VP to you
Quarterly Coaching Sessions• Regardless of physical location a HPTi employee has at a
minimum four career counseling sessions a year
• No performance review discussions allowed
• Allows a minimum of four management touch points to employees geographically remote, at customer site or both.
Our Bottom lineOur Bottom line
Working with virtual and geographically dispersed personnel to enable an engaged workforce is why you became a manager in the first place so don’t look at it as a problem or issue but a wonderful and fun challenge…a puzzle to
solve.
Focus on the EssentialsFocus on the Essentials
LISTEN!!!LISTEN!!!
– Employees tell you what makes them feel like 2nd class citizensEmployees tell you what makes them feel like 2nd class citizens– Act on “low hanging fruit” Act on “low hanging fruit” – The act of hearing & taking action= medicinal effectThe act of hearing & taking action= medicinal effect
Be InquisitiveBe Inquisitive
– Forums like Winning Workplaces, Webinars, Read Forums like Winning Workplaces, Webinars, Read
– Ideas have half livesIdeas have half lives…stay inquisitive…stay inquisitive Be ShamelessBe Shameless
– Seek ideas that have worked for others and then be shameless andSeek ideas that have worked for others and then be shameless and borrow them rapidly borrow them rapidly
Remember the EssentialsRemember the Essentials
Be RelentlessBe Relentless - - Try a mix of things until mix works for your cultureTry a mix of things until mix works for your culture and Keep Listening and Keep Listening
Be CreativeBe Creative- People like to know that you thought of them and their issues, People like to know that you thought of them and their issues, esp. remote employeesesp. remote employees- Put different things in place for employees in different places: - Put different things in place for employees in different places: Wisconsin (fishing contest) vs. Florida (Golf Tourney) Wisconsin (fishing contest) vs. Florida (Golf Tourney)
DecideDecide
Michael Lacey CEO/President, Digineer
AboutAbout DigineerDigineer
Digineer helps companies improve their Digineer helps companies improve their performance:performance:
Management Consulting (Technology& Management Consulting (Technology& Outsourcing)Outsourcing)
We bring value from to clients from We bring value from to clients from - Quick diagnosis & remediation : Maturity - Quick diagnosis & remediation : Maturity ModelsModels- Speed of adoption : QuickStart - Speed of adoption : QuickStart FrameworksFrameworks- Best Practice Expertise: Centers of - Best Practice Expertise: Centers of ExcellenceExcellence- Leading edge technology : Microsoft - Leading edge technology : Microsoft partnershippartnership
Over 10 years continual growth and Over 10 years continual growth and profitabilityprofitability
Typical Digineer CustomersTypical Digineer Customers
HealthcareUnited Health, Blue Cross, May Clinic, Starkey
FinancialAllianz, Benfield, Wells Fargo, Thrivent, US Bank
Manufacturing Cargill, Taylor Corp., CH Robinson, St. Jude Medical
RetailSupervalu, Best Buy, Carlson
Technical ExpertiseTechnical Expertise
Innovative ManagementInnovative Management
Sales and Service Excellence
Sales and Service Excellence
GrowthGrowth
.Net Developers JournalJuly 2006Aug. 2006
SQL Server 2005 WhitepaperFeb. 2007
SQL Server 2005 Integration Services Training Program
.Net Developers JournalJuly 2006Aug. 2006
SQL Server 2005 WhitepaperFeb. 2007
SQL Server 2005 Integration Services Training Program
2006 Best BossesFortune / Winning Workplaces
Star Tribune
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Sales & Service Excellence
Inc. Magazine
2006 Best BossesFortune / Winning Workplaces
Star Tribune
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Sales & Service Excellence
Inc. Magazine
Microsoft US Central Region Partner Excellence Q3 FY06
Microsoft Partner Briefing Compete Award2007
Microsoft NC District Marketing ExcellenceFY04 Q2
Microsoft US Central Region Partner Excellence Q3 FY06
Microsoft Partner Briefing Compete Award2007
Microsoft NC District Marketing ExcellenceFY04 Q2
Twin Cities Business Journal Fast 502005 - #4 2006 - #72007 - #14
Inc. 500 / 50002005 - #4382006 - #2222007 - #692*
Upsize Magazine 2006 Business Builder of the Year
Twin Cities Business Journal Fast 502005 - #4 2006 - #72007 - #14
Inc. 500 / 50002005 - #4382006 - #2222007 - #692*
Upsize Magazine 2006 Business Builder of the Year
Recognized for Best PracticesRecognized for Best Practices
Shared ValuesShared ValuesShared ExperiencesShared Experiences
CommunicationCommunicationEngagementEngagementCreate TrustCreate Trust
Celebrate DifferencesCelebrate Differences
Creating a Virtual CommunityCreating a Virtual Community
Leadership: We will lead the way for others.
Integrity: We walk the talk.
Fun: We will create an environment that brings out the best in others.
Financial Success: We will provide others with the means to achieve their goals.
Teamwork: No one of us is smarter than the rest of us.
Shared ValuesShared Values
Shared ValuesShared Values
Hire people who share your values
Embed values into decision making
Reinforce them, but don’t trivialize Consulting 101
Quarterly Company Meetings
Performance Reviews
Shared Experiences
Create compelling experiences for team
Competition
Teamwork
Creativity
Celebrate success and learn from failures
YouTube – search for Digineer
Be intentional with CommunicationBe intentional with Communication
Good communication:- Timely- Concise- With Context
Listen!
Vary Communication - Brown bag lunches - Newsletters, etc.
Focus on Engagement Focus on Engagement
Give up control to build engagement and accountability.
Company Performance Team
Employee Experience Team
Customer Experience Team
Ohana
Digi-U
Create a Trusting Work EnvironmentCreate a Trusting Work Environment
Follow-through
Consistency
Honesty
Transparency
Celebrate DifferencesCelebrate Differences
Help people feel like they belong
- Model inclusive behavior
- Educate on differences
- Pro2, Lominger
Questions?Questions?
www.digineer.comwww.digineer.com
www.hpti.comwww.hpti.com
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Nov 12 Exemplary Practices of 2008 Top Small Workplace Nov 12 Exemplary Practices of 2008 Top Small Workplace WinnersWinners
Diane Stoneman, Director of Consulting and Training, &Diane Stoneman, Director of Consulting and Training, & Mary Corbitt Clark, Executive Director, Mary Corbitt Clark, Executive Director, Winning WorkplacesWinning Workplaces
Dec 10 Maintaining a Stable Workplace in an Unstable EconomyDec 10 Maintaining a Stable Workplace in an Unstable Economy Bill Brett, CEO, Bill Brett, CEO, Barclay Water ManagementBarclay Water Management
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