Challenge Summary
Welcome to the repost of the first AEGLE Studio contest! We ran the first posting as a combination of Idea Generation and Storyboard. We’ve decided, though, that we can get better results by splitting this up. So, in this repost we are now only looking for Idea Generation. That is, we are looking for the Studio community to help us generate ideas to promote project collaboration and provide a better worker experience.
AEGLE is new to TopCoder Studio and our first project is focused on creating new ideas and an improved user experience for our internal "collaborative/team" applications. We are in the planning stages of the "MyWork" collaborative application. We have two sections of this application that we would like you focus on during this competition. We are not asking you to redesign the User Interface of these particular sections, but rather to propose creative ideas to enhance or add to the functionality of these sections. These ideas will help us to get the "MyWork" project started. We can then focus on the UI design in later contests.
The prizes are up to 10th placement, there will be a 6th to 10th place prize worth $100 each.
Any submissions received in the first two days will receive feedback.
The two sections: MyWork and Project Site
The plan is for MyWork to be an internal collaborate application that allows AEGLE employees the ability to better communicate and track their tasks, resources/assets and projects. MyWork is focused on the "Worker Experience" and all the dashboard tools, resources and "social interaction" an employee needs to manage their day-to-day tasks.
Project Site is a portal that focuses on team collaboration on specific/defined projects.
MyWork and Project Site are currently built using Sharepoint. While this is unlikely to change, we do not want this to restrict the ideas you submit. We want you to think about what other items and capabilities you would want within a MyWork or Project Site collaborative environment without regard for the technology being used. What would help you plan your day-to-day activities and projects or help you work more efficiently?
MyWork Ideas/Improvement
- Reference Context.pdf and MyWork.jpg
Here are the items we are looking to initially improve:
- What would the content be?
- What would the customization look like?
- How do we better suggest content for people? Based on existing profile, network etc?
Projects/Tasks/People
- How should MyWork interact with Projects?
- How would projects and task/relationships work/look?
- Integration to VersionOne Tasks (www.versionone.com)?
- Outlook Task Integration? (are there tools you would suggest for this?)
- Public view / restricted view?
Communication
- How do I better connect and communicate with co-workers? What types of tools do I need?
- Integration of company microblogging tool (socialcast or alternative?)
- Education material/process around MyWork
Related Links/Events Links/Training
- IDP (Individual Development Plan)
- What should the goal of these sections be?
- What resources should be available? (books, courses, etc)
Contests
- Create contests for teams/people to compete/participate
- Reward points
- Social currency
Project Site Ideas/Improvement
Project Site focuses entirely on Project Collaboration
The Project Site feature/module is meant to be used as a collaborative environment for internal AEGLE teams to work on specific/defined projects. (All projects have a defined start and end). There is a project manager who is the main administrator, and he/she can extend privileges to other team members. Project Site is used by the AEGLE team to document and track all aspects of the project (all files/assets/approvals). The entire team uses Project Site to help manage and complete their projects. A unique URL is assigned to each Project.
See "Projects".jpg
Here are the items we are looking to initially improve:
What other items would a team need in a collaborative environment to help get their project done?
Messaging/Posts
- We would like a better way to post
- Possibly better integration with socialcast (or perhaps native sharepoint).
- Something more like a facebook wall for projects Enterprise Tools
- We would like to integrate with these applications more/make it easier to use them from a Project SIte
- Clarity (PPM)
- Squids (Internal testing tool)
- Turn Center (internal code & environment movement)
- VersionOne (Agile Scrum)
- ServiceDesk (production incidents & problems)
Documents
- Folders do not provide an intuitive way to get back to the high level file folder. How can we fix this?
- Audit/Document Approvals functionality cannot be removed, but can it be improved?
Other Ideas
- What other suggestions do you have to help make "Projects" a useful project management tool?
- What features have you seen/used in project management tools you have used?
IMPORTANT
We would like to identify opportunities to increase collaboration between associates within our company. We will take the output of this Idea competition and determine features to further expand/design.
- We are looking to improve communication and enhance collaboration
- We will likely continue to use the existing SharePoint implementation as much as possible, but don't let that hinder your ideas/design
Target User
- Internal staff
- Internal project teams
- Create a collaborative internal environment
Judging Criteria
- We are looking for your ideas and concepts to get this projects started
- Focus on the bigger picture of what this application is trying to accomplish
- Feel free to rethink and add elements as needed. DO NOT just copy the functionality of the provided screens - they are meant only as a reference. DO NOT simply copy suggestions from this spec into your submission.
- Ideas and suggested tools to help complete your ideas
- Creative thoughts & concepts - clarity of your concepts!
- User Experience
Submission & Source Files
Preview Image
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission File
Submit each of your ideas separately. Each submission must contain a written description of your idea. In order to help illustrate your idea you may also submit a rough graphical design of your concept along with the description.
Source Files
All original source files of the submitted design. Idea files should be in .doc, .rtf, .pdf, or .txt format. Design files should be created in Adobe Photoshop and saved as layered PSD file.
Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your graphics (sizes or colors) or modify overall colors.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.