Company Intranet

Intranet

Overview

The company's existing intranet faced significant challenges in accommodating the rapid expansion and evolving requirements of its growing user base. In response, the team undertook the pivotal task of orchestrating a complete reimagining of the intranet, migrating it onto a new platform with an enhanced user experience. This endeavor necessitated integration with an expanded array of features tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the workforce. Coordinated integration with external systems for data ingestion, establishing a robust notification system, and facilitated the distribution of essential materials.

During the developmental phase, a strategic decision was made to pivot, redirecting our efforts towards launching the product to a smaller audience with a condensed feature set to support an expanding portion of the business that was not able to access the existing intranet. We adeptly pivoted our strategy and adjusted the roadmap to meet the evolving needs of the company.

Although I would love to share the full extent of my contributions and artifacts for this project, the proprietary nature of the software and existing non-disclosure agreements prevent me from doing so. However, I've outlined my key responsibilities and achievements below, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have on this project.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Planning: Developed a comprehensive product roadmap, strategically outlining key milestones and initiatives aligned with organizational objectives. This roadmap served as a guiding framework for prioritizing features and essential functionalities.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, IT, and business, to gather requirements and ensure alignment throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Project Management: Orchestrated the project from inception, overseeing timelines, resource allocation, and milestone achievements to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.
  • Requirement Analysis: Conducted thorough analyses of user needs and business requirements, translating findings into actionable product specifications and feature sets.
  • User Experience Design: Worked closely with UX/UI designers to create an intuitive and visually appealing user interface.
  • Collaboration with Engineers: Worked closely with engineering teams to translate product specifications into technical requirements.

Key Achievements

  • Customized Search Engine: Robust search functionality using Algolia that provided the ability to tailor search results to the unique needs of the organization, therefore facilitating rapid access to essential documents and resources.
  • Integrated Document Management System: Seamless integration of document management by extracting documents from Google Drive, converting them into HTML format, enabling users to efficiently locate and search for information across a vast repository of documents from within the intranet, removing the precious necessity to search through documentation in Google Drive.
  • Timely News Posts and Updates: Established a mechanism to import updates from the company's CRM, enabling the automatic publication of product updates and project statuses for leadership and relevant stakeholders.
  • Granular Permissions Management: Developed a sophisticated permissions framework based on the automation of imported data for the organization's hierarchy, granting access to data based on where the user sits in the organization, thus safeguarding sensitive information while ensuring accessibility.
  • Integration with Loan Origination System: Seamlessly integrated data from the company's loan origination system, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in data.
  • Gamification: Incorporated game-like elements and mechanics into the intranet platform to enhance user engagement, motivation, and productivity.
  • Revamped User Experience: New user interface based on the company's design system, closely mirroring the aesthetics and functionality of existing company systems.

Lessons Learned

  • Importance of Accurate Metrics: Establishing and maintaining accurate metrics proved essential for establishing realistic timelines and assisting with resource planning. This enabled us to effectively track progress, identify bottlenecks, and allocate resources optimally throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Value of Flexibility and Adaptability: Embracing flexibility and adaptability was crucial in responding to evolving requirements and unforeseen challenges encountered during the project. By remaining agile and open to adjustments, we were able to navigate complexities effectively and deliver solutions that met evolving needs.
  • Need for Meticulous Planning and Coordination: Meticulous planning and coordination across cross-functional teams were imperative to ensure seamless execution and mitigate risks. By establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and communication channels, we facilitated efficient collaboration and minimized misunderstandings, ultimately enhancing project outcomes.

Conclusion

Through diligent planning, execution, and collaboration, we developed a robust intranet solution poised to improve internal communication and collaboration, and enhanced support for the company's employees.

Our ability to pivot mid-project to a version of the intranet with a subset of features, demonstrated the team's agility and commitment to delivering value in a fast-paced changing environment. This adaptive approach not only showcased the team's versatility but also enabled us to address emerging needs effectively.

While the launch of the new intranet was not realized prior to my departure from the company, I am proud to have laid a strong foundation for its future success. I remain confident in the team's ability to drive the project forward and am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the project.