1. Engaging Your Stakeholders and Making the Most of Your Team
Presented by Jennifer McGee, Engagement Manager
My title
Title of discussion
My background: Project Management, Colgate in 2007, iModules 2012

2. Discussion Topics
Identifying stakeholders Creating buy-in Managing change Engaging leadership Working with your Account Manager Networking and Resources
Discuss the benefits of identifying and engaging you site’s stakeholders
Show the value of the work that you
Move from being tactical to strategic
Working with your leadership
iModules resources – your account manager, networking opportunities, additional resources

3. Introduction – Is this your life?
Most of my professional life has been cat herding
Higher ed has proven to be a particular change resistant group
This is a story I hear from my clients again and again
The purpose of this discussion today is how to make it a little easier

4. The Typical Site Manager Is…
Tech support specialist Graphic designer manager Event manager Reporting manager Data manager Strategic manager Social media expert
Often the people who are tasked with managing an iModules site are wearing a lot of hats
I don’t know many people who have the luxury of carrying the title of “site manager” – you’re probably an assistant director, web specialist, communications specialist… and so on.
Reality is: managing a complex system of tools with a myriad of functionality
It’s not uncommon for this to be going on without the management realizing it
Engaging your sites stakeholders can help to shed light on how complex your job
Possibly recruit more resources

5. Identifying Stakeholders
Engaging the site stakeholders helps to establish realistic goals and expectations
Which groups are invested in the success of your site?
Alumni Relations
Development
Student Relations
Parent Relations
ITS
Marketing and Communications
Constituents
In addition to shedding light on the full range of functionality and potential, engaging your stakeholders will help to set realistic goals and expectations
Before you engage your stakeholders, you have to identify them
Site admins are the usual suspects
There are probably other campus stakeholders that don’t use the tools directly but benefit from the success of the system
Some may not even be aware that they are a stakeholder
Even constituents have a stake in the effectiveness of the tools and well you can communicate with them.

6. Creating Buy-In
Quarterly or bi-annual stakeholder updates Establish a web committee Document 3-5 agreed on strategic goals Build an action plan around those goals Report on site metrics and goals monthly/quarterly
Now that you’ve identified your stakeholders, you need to engage them and create buy-in and awareness of the potential
Division meetings are a good place to update all the stakeholders. Ask for minutes on the agenda.
If possible, establish a web committee with representation from each of the stakeholder groups that meets monthly.
A simple strategic plan documenting top goals, action items, and ownership can help build buy-in.
Create a report tracking the key metrics - don’t get too carried away

7. This is something you can take a first pass at and share with your team and leadership.
Take a look at your institution’s strategic plan for identifying top goals/strategies

8. Change Management Recognize the need for change Set goals
Engage leadership
Create a plan
Implement new process
Evaluate outcomes
Learn and adjust
(wash, rinse, repeat)
So this is the big hurdle
It’s great to have a web committee and strategic plan – but if your institution is used to working this way it can be challenging to establish this new process

9. Engaging Leadership Benefits of involving the executive leadership:
Creates buy-in
Ensures your work aligns with institutional priorities
Identifying and allocating resources
Assists with prioritizing projects
Methods for engaging leadership – COMMUNICATE!
Quarterly attendance at web meetings
Monthly status reports
Account Manager meetings
Establish process for escalating issues or lack of buy-in
It’s not uncommon to see situations where the only time the leadership is involved is when you need to pay for something, or something goes wrong.
Engaging your leadership team in decisions, strategy, and prioritization helps to ensure that everyone is aware and onboard.

10. Working with your Account Manager
Account Managers are your partners. They provide strategic support, feedback, expertise in the field, insight into trends, peer examples, and information about product updates.
Regularly scheduled meetings
Invite leadership and stakeholders to participate
Send questions/issues in advance of call
Consider your Account Manager a member of your web team.

11. Networking and Resources
iModules Networking Opportunities
Facebook Client Group
Regional Impact Groups
Sizzler Annual User Conference (of course!)
Client Community Website (
Webinars and Training
Client Examples
Product Information and Latest Updates
Other Handy Resources
iModules Insider blog (
HighEdLive Blog (
College Web Editor (
Lynda.com Technology Training (

12. Questions?