There are numerous mobile technology software options for increasing communication among and between groups, delivering training and building collaboration. To determine which app would work best for a team, many parameters should be assessed including workplace environment, the audience, the problem to be solved, purpose of the app, goals, mobile app options, and ethical considerations.
The Plan
Workplace Environment: Consider the number of employees and teams that need to use the app and whether they will be face-to-face or remote, local or across international boundaries.
Target Audience: Is the team tech savvy or will there be a great deal of training needed to implement the app?
Problem: What problem are you trying to solve with the new technology?
Purpose of the App: What is the reason for the app? Is it for day-to-day communication, emergency notification, real time meetings or some other purpose?
Goals: What are you trying to accomplish with the implementation?
Mobile Technology needed to launch plan: What technology will be required to get the plan up and running. Can you use existing infrastructure, or will you need to provide stakeholders with phones, tablets, or some other devices?
Ethical considerations: Think about how you will keep users safe and protect against breaches in ethics standards.
Steps in the process:
Part of your planning process should include the steps in the process to obtain approval:
- Survey all stakeholders to ensure that you understand their needs and limitations, their annual budget and comfort with technology (Santtineni, 2015).
- Research available apps that provide the features which will allow the company to communicate freely and provide the solutions they need.
- Create a chart of the top three contenders which includes (See Table 1 below):
- Name of app
- Cost per employee
- List of features with comments on how it differs from the others (pros and cons)
- Ask the company to create a committee to review the top three contenders and meet with the app company if desired.
- Arrange a free trial with a small group of the employees/outside consultants
- Get approval from the Board for the purchase
- Train the team members on how to use the app they have selected.
- Do a survey regarding the app implementation
- Do a follow up survey in 60 day follow up on how/if the app is fulfilling their needs
At each stage of the process, it is important to engage the users and management to ensure that all stakeholders have a say in the result. It is also critical for the users to evaluate the product soon after implementation and again sixty days later.
Resources:
The Friday Blog: Twelve mobile technology apps reviewed: https://friday.app/p/internal-communication-apps
References:
Santtineni, A. and Schmidt, T. (2015) Implementation of mobile devices on jobsites in the construction industry. Procadia Engineering. 123(2015) 488-495
doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.10.100