By Miriam Barcellona Ingenito, Director of FI$Cal
Almost two years ago, we launched a series of design thinking workshops we called Imagine FI$Cal, where we invited system users to brainstorm ideas that could enhance their FI$Cal experience in the areas of system performance, training, and customer service. The first event was held at our FI$Cal headquarters in April 2019, and a second event took place in Los Angeles in November of the same year.
Users were bursting with great ideas at both events, and we came away with many strong initiatives and system tools to help our customers with everything from month- and year-end close activities to the creation of dashboards and centralized information platforms. Altogether, we’ve implemented 17 concepts generated at the two Imagine FI$Cal events, and 10 more are in progress.
Now we are preparing our third Imagine FI$Cal event, which will take place in the second half of May. Each session will give end users the opportunity to openly consider all the possibilities that might improve their FI$Cal experience. Workshops will employ interactive, hands-on activities to help participants “imagine” ideas to improve FI$Cal.
We are planning four sessions, each of which will occupy two half-days. Unlike the 2019 events, we will do this virtually in 2021, using Zoom and Mural (links will be provided).
There will be other changes, as well. This time we plan to focus on four big questions that we think will be of greatest help to our customers:
- How might we create a manual that turns users into confident users? We are open to suggestions as we envision what a manual would look like – whether it’s a book, a video, a diagram or something else.
- How might we create a program that makes saying, “I am a certified FI$Cal user” have meaning? This would replace and/or expand upon the bronze and silver certifications that were previously part of the University of FI$Cal.
- How might we provide users with instant, easy-to-use reports that empower you and your organization to succeed? We want to identify the pain points in the reports that you are currently using, and learn what information you would like but aren’t currently getting from using FI$Cal.
- How might we create a ServiceNow self-service portal that you are willing to use? We are constantly striving to enhance the user experience, and we want to learn how to make it easier for you to use the ServiceNow portal so that you can get how-to questions answered quickly, without the need for creating a ticket.
The four sessions are scheduled to take place as follows:
May 17-18 – FI$Cal Manual – 8:30 a.m. – noon
May 20-21 – FLC Certificate – 1-5 p.m.
May 24-25 – Reporting – 8:30 a.m. – noon
May 26-27– ServiceNow – 8:30 a.m. – noon
If you are interested in making your voice heard, contact your department liaison. FI$Cal will send an email to DLs, asking them to nominate up to two individuals from their departments to attend each session.