UXR
Integrate the values and influences of company culture within the remote workplace experience of individuals to enable a shared mindset for improved business success
Project Profile
Scope
Date September 2020 - October 2021
Type Individual Research & Strategy & Concept Design
Role Researcher & Strategist
Audience Team leaders, Remote team leader, Remote worker
What is company culture?
Company culture is "Why" we do things "this way" around here.
Why is company culture important?
Company culture has a strong influence on employee retention, productivity and beyond that, creativity.
Why does workplace experience matter?
In the past, company leadership utilized the work spaces to infuse their culture. However, in the past few years, this has changed. They are no longer able to rely on a physical workplace.
Phase1: Discover & Define
Context
"When we can't physically work together in a space, we feel disconnect with people and the company culture."
So, who has a strong influence on company culture?
Based on stakeholder map which highlights their interests and the power of influences, we discovered that 'managers' and 'employees' are the most crucial.
Solid line - direct influences
Dotted line - indirect influences
Research Plan: 4 key exploration areas
Methodologies used:
Literature review, survey, stakeholder interview, persona, user journey map, infinity map, importance & feasibility matrix, creative matrix, concept prototype, user testing, and MoSCoW matrix
Insights from our target stakeholders in the survey:
According to 67 respondents from a survey targeting remote workers & leaders, data shown as:
Data Synthesis
Personas & Journey Maps
After the interviews, three personas were created to represent different perspectives, followed by their journey maps to discover users needs, frustrations, and design opportunities.
Huge Vincent | Team Leader
Alexa Britten | Senior Designer
Steven Green | Entry Designer
Hugh Vincent | Team Leader | Try hard to maintain company culture and connections in remote working environment
Alexa Britton | Senior Designer | Love the flexibility of remote working
Steven Green | Entry Designer | Frustrated by the disconnection, loss of culture, lack of transparency
Insights
Throughout the research, 14 significant findings emerged. Below, I’ll dive deeper into two particularly interesting insights. If you'd like to explore the rest of the findings, feel free to reach out for further details.
1 Meeting heavy schedule kills creativity
In a remote setup, excessive meetings disrupt focus and drain energy, leaving little time for deep, creative work
2 Desire of immediacy
Remote workers often miss the quick responsiveness of in-office communication. In a digital environment, delayed replies can lead to frustration and slower progress, as the immediacy of spontaneous, in-person interactions is often lost.
3 Intentionally creating opportunities to connect with others
In a remote setting, the absence of physical connections can weaken empathy and honesty. Unlike in-office interactions, which foster trust and belonging, remote teams must intentionally create opportunities for connection through virtual activities or off-site events. While different, these efforts can still build strong relationships and support among team members.
Decision Making: Importance Matrix
This matrix identifies the necessary insights to include in the solution, based on two variables: data amounts and importance relative to the project.
Design Criteria
Based on the importance matrix, I identified 5 explicit elements that my ideas must achieve in order to be successful.
Recommendation
1. Employees working in a remote environment often feel disconnected from their colleagues. This disconnection decreases empathy, emotional connection, and honesty, leading to a lack of care for one another and the surrounding culture. To combat this, it’s essential to intentionally create opportunities for virtual connection, fostering a more curious approach toward others and investing in off-site events to build an engaging, supportive culture.
2 Meeting-heavy schedules stifle creativity, resulting in diminished innovation and slower project development. Employees may feel their potential is wasted, leading to disengagement and frustration. Encouraging focused, uninterrupted work hours is crucial for fostering creativity and allowing employees to explore new ideas and solutions.
3 The lack of immediacy in remote work environments often frustrates employees facing urgent tasks. Delayed responses can hinder productivity and slow decision-making processes. Implementing transparency through company policy, live status updates, and clear communication channels can help mitigate these issues and keep everyone informed.
4 Without proper alignment, teams can face miscommunication and misunderstandings, leading to decreased efficiency and employee satisfaction. This misalignment can result in project delays and low morale. Establishing regular check-ins and alignment meetings can enhance collaboration and ensure everyone is on the same page. Implementing a goal-tracking platform and a documentation system can help everyone stay organized and informed. Celebrating successes and learning from failures can foster a positive team culture, ultimately driving overall success.
5. The qualities of a good leader remain consistent, whether in-person or remote. However, leaders work in a remote environment must cultivate curiosity about their team members to foster engagement. A lack of understanding can lead to disconnect and diminished team morale. To bridge this gap, regular 1:1 check-in meetings are essential, allowing leaders to connect with their team members on a personal level. Additionally, being readily reachable and intentionally showing extra cares about individuals’ challenges and successes can create a more supportive and productive environment, enhancing overall team dynamics.
Learnings & Reflections
Some key insights and personal growth from the project, highlighting areas for improvement and valuable lessons learned.
Improve time management
I learned the value of prioritizing tasks and setting clear deadlines, which helped streamline my workflow. Breaking larger tasks into manageable steps allowed me to stay organized and focused.
Proactive is the key
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world felt ambiguous, making it challenging to reach out to professors due to my fear of making mistakes. This hesitation led me to take longer routes to gather information. I realized that being proactive in asking questions and scheduling review meetings could have significantly improved my understanding and project progress.
Adapt research methods
I had a research plan outlining the methods I intended to use. However, as the world changed rapidly, I learned to be flexible in my approach, allowing me to address the challenges of the new normal. Being open to new methodologies ensured effective research outcomes and enhanced adaptability in an evolving environment.
Celebrate small wins
I put a lot of pressure on myself during the project, which ultimately proved unhealthy. By pushing too hard and overlooking my accomplishments, I experienced burnout and frustration. I learned the importance of celebrating each step along the way, appreciating my progress, and recognizing the support from others. This shift in mindset fostered a more positive atmosphere and motivated me to continue striving for success.
Explore my complete research thesis here
