Client Story:
Leaping into the Digital Future

Ailey's Digital Dilemma

The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, a beacon of artistic excellence, faced a significant challenge. Their digital workplace was fragmented, with content scattered across multiple systems, making it difficult for staff to find information and collaborate effectively. Internal communications were bogged down by reliance on email, and the lack of streamlined processes hindered their mission of promoting dance and cultural enrichment.

Unveiling the Pain Points

Ideal State embarked on a comprehensive discovery phase to understand the depth of Ailey's digital challenges. Through staff surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews, we uncovered key pain points:

• Staff struggled with scattered content, leading to confusion and inefficiencies.
• Internal communications were cumbersome, with important updates often lost in email threads.
• Collaboration tools were inadequate, making it difficult for teams to work together seamlessly.

A Modern Digital Workplace

With a clear understanding of the challenges, Ideal State crafted a vision for Ailey's digital future. We aimed to modernize their digital workplace by optimizing existing tools and introducing new systems to enhance collaboration, streamline processes, and improve content management.

Implementing Change

The transformation journey began with a structured change management plan. We developed a comprehensive communication strategy to keep staff informed and engaged throughout the project. Training sessions and user support were provided to ensure a smooth transition to the new digital tools.

Key components of the transformation included:

• Content Migration: We migrated content to SharePoint and OneDrive, providing staff with anytime, anywhere access to mission-critical files.
• Intranet Launch: A new intranet was introduced as the primary destination for announcements, employee self-service, and cross-organization communication.
• Teams Rollout: Microsoft Teams was rolled out to support collaboration and communication, reducing reliance on non-Ailey tools like Dropbox and Google Docs.

Ailey's Digital Renaissance

The results of the digital workplace transformation were profound. Staff could now easily collaborate on documents and communicate across departments using Microsoft Teams. The migration to SharePoint and OneDrive streamlined content storage and access, reducing confusion and inefficiencies. The new intranet became a central hub for organizational news and information, improving staff engagement and awareness.

Sustaining the Momentum

The collaboration between the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and Ideal State has set the stage for a sustainable digital future. By implementing a comprehensive change management plan, establishing robust governance, and leveraging cutting-edge digital tools, Ailey is now better equipped to achieve its mission and continue its legacy of excellence in the arts.