THE FELIX PROJECT: Exploring options for a new intranet

The Felix Project is an inspirational charity fighting hunger and food waste. It distributes surplus food from suppliers to charities who then deliver it to the people who need it the most. Based across several different depots around London, The Felix Project runs a complex operation that has proved essential during the cost-of-living crisis.

With a rapidly growing workforce and an ever-expanding army of volunteers, The Felix Project was considering deploying a new intranet to better support the streamlining and standardisation of operations, while also engaging both staff and volunteers.

A cross-functional team of stakeholders from IT and Human Resources felt that they needed external expert help to guide them on next steps. The team engaged Spark Trajectory to define an intranet strategy and roadmap for a potential new Felix Project intranet. The team also sought guidance in the future identification of technology options for any new intranet deployed.

User and stakeholder research

We undertook an extensive discovery period covering both user and stakeholder research. We interviewed several key stakeholders including the interim CEO, trustees and those on the project team. We then undertook a series of user interviews covering both staff and volunteer roles. We also spent some time in one depot, observing the daily working and volunteering patterns to get a 360-degree understanding of user needs.

We analysed and codified the interview data, using elements of our Task Trajectory framework to map key employee journeys. Armed with these insights, we designed and delivered an engaging half day in-person workshop with a large group of users to get an even deeper understanding of top employee and volunteer tasks and the relative prioritisation. The workshop also sought to generate excitement about a potential new intranet.

Options for a new intranet

Synthesising the results from the user workshop, we documented an Intranet strategy and roadmap and presented it back to the core project team via a workshop. Following their input, we created a final agreed version.

We then used aspects of Spark Trajectory’s Product Evaluation Matrix to document a recommended product and alignment framework to give the team a solid methodology to identify intranet software products that would be the best fit for The Felix Project.

The strategy and product framework placed The Felix Project in a strong position to make informed decisions about the future direction and design of a staff and volunteer intranet, helping the charity to keep on delivering its essential and inspiring mission and vision.