Participant Packet

Maintaining Quality Organizational Communication after Virtual Technology Implementation Head Training Designer: Jennifer Hanson

Participant Packet

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Introduction and Purpose

Companies around the world decide to implement new virtual technologies in order to keep productivity standards high, increase efficiency or step in the new digital frontier in their respective field. Adoption and training are important steps but equal importance should also be placed on building strategies for adapting to this technological change and also maintenance of the highest quality of interpersonal communication of the employees. These issues will be addressed and more throughout the workshop via activities, discussion, and visualization. Eventually the ultimate goal will be reached of seeing change in a new light and solidifying strategies of adapting to the implementation of virtual technologies within the workplace while maintaining quality communication. Specifically, the setup of this training package would serve well companies who recently or are currently implementing virtual technology. The training serves as a strategy builder for adapting to this technological change and how to better view the choice for implementation of said technology.

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Objectives and Training Outline Objectives: • To gain a new perspective on change and technology choices by companies • Build strategies on how to adopt new technology after implementation • Foster the importance of quality communication and discussion Sections • Part I: Defining Change o Timeline of Change (15-20 min) o Change and Technology (15-20 min) o New Perspective? (10 min) • Part II: Technology Adoption o Stranded on an Island (20 min) o Reflection of Values (20 min) o New Perspective? (10 min) • Break (10 min) • Part III: Reflection o Fill in the Blank (15 min) o Questions, Highlights and Closing (20-30 min)

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Part I: Defining Change Activity: Timeline of Change On the separate sheet of paper provided, draw a timeline of the last ten years of your life on a long horizontal line. It does not have to be extremely detailed as you should focus on the major changes that have happened in those ten years. You will draw vertical lines where the change happened and the length will denote the magnitude, or impact, of the change. (i.e. longer lines equal big changes). No labeling of what exactly the event is necessary. Example:

1998

2008

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Part I: Defining Change Discussion: Change and Technology In small groups or pairs, begin to formulate a list of adjectives or phrases that describe new implementations of technology within the workplace. List of Adjectives/Phrases:

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Part I: Defining Change Review: New Perspective? After the last two activities, how do you now see change? Do you find yourself starting to find strategies to adapt to technology changes? Specifically in the workplace? Feel free to document personal insights learned from the past activities below.

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Part II: Technology Adoption Activity: Stranded on an Island Imagine you are stranded on a remote island on purpose for a social experiment. You have plenty of provisions and know that you will be rescued in a few days. Knowing that, what are three pieces of technology would you bring? Why? (Specifically the characteristics) My Top 3 Technologies and Reasoning

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Part II: Technology Adoption Discussion: Reflection of Values Discussion Points: 1. What are the main values or goals of this company?

2. How do the technology choices reflect those overarching values?

3. How do these values relate to previous technology choices?

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Part II: Technology Adoption Review: New Perspective? Similar to the discussion about a possible new perspective about change, the focus is now on adoption of new technology presented in the workplace. After the last two activities, how do you see technology adoption now? Do you find yourself starting to find strategies to adapt to new technologies? Specifically in the workplace? Again, feel free to document personal insights learned from the past activities below.

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Ten Minute Break

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Part III: Reflection Writing Exercise: Fill in the Blank The following statements have missing key words to the statements. They are to help you to reframe change and technology as well as communication. There is no rush to finish them all at once, complete at your leisure.

• Whenever I feel _______________________ with technology, I will ________________________________________. • Announcement of a new technology within the workplace is __________________________________________. • Change to me is _________________________________________. • Tension with new technology for me is from ___________________ ________________________________________________________. • Right now the hardest technology for me to adopt is because ________________________________________________________.

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• I feel that I can fully adopt this technology if I __________________ ________________________________________________________. • Now if I feel negative towards change in the workplace I can: o o o • Colleagues and/or contacts who I know I am able to ask for help with technology changes: o o o

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Part III: Reflection Discussion: Questions, Highlights and Closing As the training session closes, this is a time for answering any questions that may have come up during the break or even while filling out the fill in the blank statements. Feel free to answer each other’s questions to continue open communication. Were there any specific portions or discussion that was particularly meaningful to you? Now is the opportunity for you to voice these points. Notes:

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Thank you for completing a training session created by Holistic Connection! We hope that you have enjoyed the process and that a new, healthier perspective of change and technology implementation has occurred for you.

Feel free to contact our consulting team at any time: [email protected]

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