Viva Engage (and before that Yammer) has had a bit of a reputation problem, some people love it, some hate it. With brilliant features designed to heighten engagement between colleagues and enable leaders and communicators to reach everyone in an organisation, it is time to review where Viva Engage sits in your organisation. With the ability to read and interact via Teams, Outlook and the native tools, features like Questions and Answers, Leadership Corner, and deep analytics, Viva Engage has a lot more potential to help reinforce the culture of an organisation. In this session, I will share details of the features, how I use it in Microsoft and how my clients see it helping their organisations.

In this session, we explore how Microsoft Copilots can significantly enhance strategic planning and execution. By seamlessly integrating with familiar tools and platforms, Copilots empower teams to streamline processes, improve artifact quality, and expedite goal attainment. Key areas of focus: 1. Accelerating Strategy Development: ○ Copilots assist in constructing robust strategies by leveraging tools such as Word and PowerPoint. These familiar applications facilitate the creation and presentation of strategic plans. 2. Design Thinking with Whiteboard: ○ Whiteboard enables teams to employ Design Thinking techniques. Copilots enhance this process by providing intelligent insights during strategy elaboration. 3. Viva Goals for Tracking: ○ Using Copilot in Viva Goals to set up objectives and key results to allow real-time tracking of objectives. Teams can monitor progress, identify bottlenecks, and make informed adjustments. 4. Teams for Progress and Reporting: ○ Microsoft Teams serves as a hub for collaboration and communication. Using Copilot in Teams can simplify progress updates, reporting and foster transparency. Whether you’re embarking on a strategic journey or fine-tuning existing goals, using Microsoft Copilots can offer a wealth of capabilities. From initial planning to execution, Copilots can empower teams, optimise processes, and drive success.

There are many tools that are designed for those with accessibility needs, bit their should not be limited as many of them make it easier for all of us to use technology. In this session, I will demonstrate the tools that are available in Windows 11, Microsoft 365, the Adaptive Accessories for physical needs and the Viva tools for mental wellbeing. I will also talk about the considerations for cultural change that empower all users of technology to be aware of the possibilities and able to choose the tools that suit them best.

The Data Classification page in Microsoft Purview offers many different tools that can be used to identify content that is subject to different compliance policies. This session will explain how the different tools can be used to automate the application of the different types of policy. The tools that we be covered are: • How to use the out of the box Sensitive Information Types • How to create a custom Sensitive Information Type • How to use Exact Data Match in combination with Sensitive Information Types • How to create, train and use Trainable classifiers After this session, you will understand the different tools that can be used to identify content and the policies that can utilise the tools.

The eternal question that employees want answered is "What do I use when?". With a growing number of tools to choose from to achieve the same outcome, the likelihood of not knowing what to use is very, very high. In this session, I will share some approaches that I have used in multiple client workshops to develop organisational clarity in order to be able to answer this question. Factors that will be discussed include choice of tool, wrapping of tools in familiar interfaces, definition of a capability mapping and how to sharing it with organisation. You will leave this session with an approach that you can use in your own organisation to start building a capability mapping for your employees.