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Even with IBM Offices opening again after the pandemic, we are living in a hybrid world that requires virtual interactions with the vast majority of the global workforce.
Tasked with a goal of bringing together all employees, the IBM Enterprise Operations and Services (EO&S) Communications team embarked on creating a Virtual Tour / Roadshow that would allow the EO&S organization leader, Joanne Wright, to virtually visit all key locations, along with engaging all remote employees. The tour aimed to provide a platform for learning from each other, collaborating, and getting inspired about current and future opportunities in the organization.
The tour covered eight locations, including the Philippines (covering both morning and night shifts), Brazil, China, Slovakia, Mexico, India, Spain, and Japan, which together represent 80% of our workforce. Each location was given a two-hour time slot to focus on their geographic priorities, strategy, and most importantly team-building activities. The event was designed to provide a balance of work and fun, with opportunities for team members to connect with each other and engage in roundtable discussions with leaders and top talents.
The series of events took place in August and October 2022 and was planned and organized within 2 months. EO&S Communications team was responsible for engaging with representatives from each location, scheduling dates and times that better fit the geography, and co-creating the tour's local agenda to ensure it is relevant and would encourage everyone in that specific location to attend. All the logistics behind the scenes were also possible due to the local teams’ involvement, to ensure that the hybrid sessions would go well.
From a production perspective, organizing the virtual tour was a complex process that required detailed planning and coordination. The team leveraged various tools and technologies to ensure the event ran smoothly, including video conferencing, live collaboration platforms, and project management tools.
A one-pager promo poster was created to share all the tour information and invitations. The poster was also used afterwards to share the replays of each virtual visit along with its outcomes.
In terms of audience demographics, the virtual tour reached a significant portion of our global workforce, with participants from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The event's goal was to bring people together despite physical distance and encourage collaboration, and the virtual tour successfully achieved this aim.
One of the most significant achievements of the virtual tour was the hybrid approach to the event, which allowed the locations to create face-to-face interactions between all employees, on-site and remote, while receiving virtual visits from Joanne Wright. With highly transparent and frank discussions, this approach was well-received by the employees, and it demonstrated how hybrid events can benefit the entire organization and be conducted regularly.
The NPS results varied between 52 and 90 points, indicating a high level of satisfaction among all 3000+ attending employees, it also had a direct influence on IBM Engagement Survey, increasing the EO&S results by 8 points YtY.
In conclusion, the virtual tour was a successful event that brought EO&S global workforce together after a challenging time. It demonstrated the organization's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and leverage technology to create meaningful connections between its employees.
Nomination Title: Executive Virtual Tour
