This document discusses how collaboration tools like IBM Connections can provide value for businesses. It describes how one business invested in IBM Connections in 2012 to help 29 countries collaborate more effectively. However, in 2014 there was a leadership change and questions arose about the value of collaboration tools. The document then provides strategies for demonstrating the value of these tools, such as collaborating closely with key departments, using the tools for events, and developing an internal strategy. It also suggests ways to quantify savings, such as preventing data loss or reducing duplicate website builds. Finally, it describes how one business improved collaboration between IT and communications teams when managing these tools.

1. Adding value through
collaboration
Jenni field
30 September 2016
@jenniwheller

2. @jenniwheller
We are all in this together
• In 2012 the business invests and rolls out IBM Connections to help the 29
countries collaborate
• In 2014 there is a change in leadership, a change in company ownership and with
that comes the question….
What is the value of collaboration? What is the value of communication and
more importantly, what are we saving by spending money each year on this
tool?

3. @jenniwheller
Stop, collaborate and listen
• Find the departments that need to collaborate globally and work with them
closely – get underneath the department and prove success
• Use the tools for events - sharing documents, connecting people before they
arrive
• Develop your own strategy – from introducing a tool to creating a complete social
collaboration network – IBM Connections met IBM Mail which met Sametime. In
addition we rolled out IBM Portal for the frontline teams to push news out to the
wider business

4. @jenniwheller
Now, show me the money!
1. Use other parts of the business to do your bidding! We used the Risk Committee to
leverage the security message – we could save at least £5k from losing Dropboxor
equivalent accounts
2. The platform could enable external stakeholder collaboration – saving another
potential £25k of microsite builds trying to tackle the problem of serving up different
pieces of content to different audiences/third party agencies
3. Talk to those who are the experts – we got IBM on the phone and discussed all the
options they discuss with other companies
4. We used our business strategy to our advantage – you want to franchise? We need to
make sure we have the right material in the right place and only one version.
5. We can make us more efficient…

5. @jenniwheller
Where is it today?
1. IT and Communications working completely in sync – we moved from a project
manager helping us with upgrades to a product owner for the whole IBM suite
2. Communications was responsible for the business strategy behind the tool and
the IT team responsible for the technical side of things
3. Success in the UK has meant the USA team are now going through the roll out
of in-depth Connections training and Portal for frontline teams
4. Continued development in the UK for Portal to become the gateway for
frontline teams to get access to their development plans and day-to-day tasks

6. Adding value through
collaboration
30 September 2016
@jenniwheller