Granicus Tools
UX Case Study: Enhancing Engagement HQ by Decoupling Tools from Project Pages.
Introduction
Granicus is a leading provider of cloud-based technology solutions tailored for governmental organizations. Among its products is EngagementHQ, a community engagement platform designed to facilitate focused consultation and feedback collection.
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Project Overview
The objective of the "Engagement HQ—Decoupling Tools from Project Pages" project was to enhance EngagementHQ's functionality and flexibility by disconnecting data-gathering tools from project pages. This initiative aimed to expand the platform's pricing structure and enable embeddable tools on third-party pages or social media platforms.
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Role & Team
As a Senior UX Designer/Researcher and UI Designer, I collaborated with a cross-functional team consisting of a Project Owner, Project Manager, and Development Lead to drive the project forward.
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Problem Statement
Currently, tools within EngagementHQ are tightly coupled with project pages, necessitating the creation of a page before implementing a tool. This constraint limits flexibility and inhibits the platform's scalability. A reevaluation of the platform's information architecture (IA) was required to decouple tools from project pages effectively.
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Approach
Led workshops and research sessions with internal stakeholders to define overarching project goals.
Designed new "Tool Previews" for embedding within product pages and third-party platforms.
Mapped and visualized the platform's IA to identify areas for restructuring.
Conducted individual tool research to understand their requirements within the admin platform.
Designed flows, journey maps, and wireframes to illustrate new workflows and IA.
Collaborated closely with the product team to develop a rollout strategy and communicate changes to customers effectively.
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Biggest Challenges
The project encountered challenges in achieving alignment across different functional areas of the product and revising the IA to accommodate the decoupling of tools. Additionally, communicating significant changes to users posed a challenge due to the existing state of the product's IA.
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Outcomes
Developed a new IA that separates tools from project pages, enhancing flexibility and scalability.
Designed intuitive workflows and visualizations for tool creation, implementation, and embedding.
Created high-fidelity mockups and prototypes to demonstrate the new structure and features.
Collaborated with the product team to devise a rollout strategy and facilitate user communication.
Improved user experience and platform functionality, enabling greater customization and integration options for users.
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Conclusion
The "Engagement HQ - Decoupling Tools from Project Pages" project significantly enhanced the capabilities and usability of EngagementHQ by restructuring its IA and decoupling tools from project pages. By addressing key constraints and challenges, the project laid the foundation for a more flexible, scalable, and user-centric platform experience.
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Next Steps
Moving forward, continuous iteration and refinement of the IA and tool functionalities will be essential to meet evolving user needs and market demands. Ongoing collaboration with stakeholders and users will ensure that EngagementHQ remains at the forefront of community engagement platforms.
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