Main Takeaways: - Finding efficiencies, - Balancing manual work with software solutions - Optimizing workflows

1. Digitizing Workflows
by Disney Product Leader
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5. Digitizing Workflows
Katie Campbell Product Manager

6. A B O U T M E
● Originally from Baltimore and relocated to the LA area 11 years ago
● Proud parent to a sphynx cat and pitsky puppy
● 14 years of experience in digital content management
● 9 years entertainment experience
● 5 years in software product management

7. A G E N D A
2.
1.
Assessing the Landscape
Problem Statement
4.
3.
Tools Assessment
Estimating Impact
5. Finding the Balance

8. PROBLEM STATEMENT

9. Problem Statement
Finding your problem statement starts with asking the right questions.
● What are we trying to solve?
● Are we asking the right questions?
● Do we have the right people looped in?
● Where are we stuck?
● How are we stuck?
● Do we need a process change or a tools enhancement?
?
?
?

10. ASSESSING THE LANDSCAPE

11. Assessing the Landscape
To figure out where you’re going, you need to know where you are.
1. Host discovery sessions with stakeholders
○ Stakeholders are your most valuable SMEs
○ Include them early and often--collaboration is key
○ Treat fresh eyes and an open mind as part of your uniform
2. Workflow Mapping: Befriend your whiteboard
○ Clicks
○ Docs
○ Red Flags

12. ESTIMATING IMPACT

13. Estimating Impact
Quantify when and where possible
1. Organize
○ Bucket steps and phases from workflow mapping
○ Meet with stakeholders and identify any variations in workflow
○ Diagram proposed updates
○ Create mockups or wireframes as needed
2. Estimate
○ Time trial
○ Assign times to each of the bucketed blocks of work in workflow
○ Log and sum
○ Mock time trial using mocks or wireframes
3. Analyze
○ Run the difference!
○ Compare output against project goals
○ Revisit and refine

14. TOOLS ASSESSMENT

15. Tools Assessment
Paving the path to success means taking a step back.
1. Excel
○ Not the enemy
○ Not the solution
2. Third Party Applications
○ Don’t rule it out
○ Don’t make it your only POV
○ Put stock in current capabilities rather than future promises
○ Stay familiar with the market and its offerings
3. Internal Solution
○ Is it better to build?
○ Custom solutions for custom workflows are sometimes the only path
○ Strive for solid foundations with potential for extensible enhancements
○ Remember things change! Stay agile and consider phased approaches with
committed timelines

16. FINDING THE BALANCE

17. Finding the Balance
Do you need a stop gap or a long-term solution? Questions to ask yourself and your team:
1. What is the ideal end state?
2. Is this workflow temporary?
3. What changes could lead to decommissioning this workflow?
4. Who benefits from this change?
5. Is the impact worth the resource spend?

18. 2.
1.
S U M M A R Y
Answer as much as you can
Question everything!
4.
3.
Trust your gut!
Document and quantify

19. Thank You!
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