Virtual Workplace Update

Well, progress is good.

We met with the executive team at our firm and made headway in terms of securing an investment for virtual workers. We aren't able to use the word "virtual" in our dialogue...our executives feel it sounds a bit too impersonal ... no problem - we can live with that.

We approached our strategy by dividing the project into phases:

• Phase 1 - Connecting Employees (IM, Web Meetings, etc...)
• Phase 2 - Collaboration (Document sharing, team and project site, search)
• Phase 3 - Unified Communications (Speech access to email, voice mail in outlook in-box, etc)
  

We may end up moving capabilities from one phase to another depending on feedback from employees. Speech access really got our executives attention which is great. On the other hand, one exec asked why instant messaging? What not just use email? Their "boomerness" was showing.

There is plenty of excitement regarding the new tools and the new work environment. Our exec team wants to make sure we don't lose the personal connections that they believe can only be sustained in person. We have to prove that the tools work and that people are more productive. While we wont be cavalier about this however we are very confident that the new tools will deliver the right business results.

Just an update for now...more to come.