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COVID-19

Project & crisis management

April 17, 2020

In brief

Project management

Link workers and workflows for efficient, effective project management. Configure your channels with the right mix of applications based on the type of work you are managing.

Best Practices

Kick projects off right

Set up a Team with the appropriate channels and app configurations before kicking off a project. You can connect hundreds of apps and services to Teams, including Office 365 apps. Use tabs, connectors, bots, and more to integrate your favorite apps directly into your Teams experience.

Prioritize sharing

Set up your shared Team file folders in advance of kicking off a project to organize where your team will share, store and collaborate on different types of files.

Work with a Wiki

Create shared Team Wiki pages to outline project-related best practices, provide links to relevant tools and templates, or to capture client meeting notes and to-dos. You can also create a Wiki page with sections corresponding to each of your shared file folders and use the Wiki to explain what types of files each folder contains.

Keep everyone on track

Use the Planner app to assign and track team tasks and create a shared team schedule.

Manage external access

Invite clients or other external partners to join your Team with guest access, allowing them to participate in all public channels within your Team, including file sharing. For channels with chat threads and files not meant to be shared externally, configure private channels so that only internal team members can access them.

Train your team

When managing a project virtually, take time upfront to train the project team on virtual collaboration methodologies and what to expect during virtual meetings or workshops.

Be heard

During virtual meetings on Teams, speak with energy and clarity and use video whenever possible, since body language, words and tone take on elevated meaning in a virtual setting.

Schedule regular check-ins

Schedule weekly Teams meetings using video and screensharing to communicate progress on a weekly basis and ensure everyone’s feedback is gathered early and often.

Plan ahead

Try to schedule all meetings well in advance to ensure team members have time to coordinate their schedules and have all required attendees present.

Learn More

COVID-19 and crisis management

Manage your crisis response remotely and communicate with your staff during COVID-19 or any disruption.

Best Practices

Bring cross-functional internal and external stakeholders together

Set up a team and organize teams into channels to quickly respond to the crisis by establishing a central space for collaboration. Easily determine when all key players within a channel or team are available to meet, then schedule meetings that include screen sharing and video conferencing.

Collaborate on rapid response materials

Use features like channel conversations, chat threads, video conferencing, file sharing and collective document editing to brainstorm solutions and track important tasks, activities and decisions.

Share important communications with employees

Establish a specific team for crisis responses and policies with all employees. Use notification options to alert employees of new information.

Create a live feed

Channel discussions can be used as a live feed to get the latest updates and to keep everyone in the loop on the latest status and developments (instead of sitting on a conference bridge for hours to receive updates).

Use video to show your response in action

Mobile video conferencing makes it easy to show crisis response teams exactly what is happening on the ground or on the frontlines of the crisis by connecting field workers, experts and war room teams.

Create private channels for sensitive collaboration

Set permissions so that only those provided access can view these channels.

Connect relevant apps available through Teams

Configure them as tabs in your channels to stay organized and effectively respond to the crisis. For example, add a Wiki tab to a channel to track crisis response notes, activities, risks and issues. Add a Planner tab to assign crisis response action items and track team progress using a shared schedule.

Manage your organization's response to COVID-19

Use Power Apps and Power Automate Crisis Communication templates. You can design custom apps and make them available for other Teams users, or use the new crisis response apps now available, such as the free Crisis Communication app. They give you a single portal equipped with recommendations from global health authorities and government officials. You can also use the Power Platform healthcare emergency response templates to help manage beds, equipment, patients and more.

Learn More

Set up a site or "war room" for leaders to collaborate around the crisis

Quickly create a crisis communications channel for employees

Develop templates for new ways of working

Meet the team

Eva Sage-Gavin

Senior Managing Director – Talent & Organization
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Keith Lippiatt

Senior Managing Director – Accenture Technology
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Jill Goldstein

Talent and HR Business Lead – Accenture Operations
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Florin Rotar

Executive, Global Modern Workplace Lead – Avanade & Accenture Microsoft Business Group
LinkedIn