ePLATFORMS
My work and digital tools I work as a product owner in a publicly owned IT company in the patient information system services team. My duties consist of service management, service life cycle and service maintenance entities. I work with a variety of stakeholders in multi-supplier environments. My own work environment and tasks require different skills, my daily activities are not just meetings, planning and decisions, but there is a large group of skills and people in the background that I utilize almost without noticing. In my work, I need e.g. sales and negotiation skills, because interaction with different stakeholders is continuous. Project management is closely involved in everything I do schedules, dependencies, risks and prioritization are commonplace. In addition, the work requires service management expertise, knowledge of the basics of contract law, sales and customer relationship management skills, and a good understanding of the operating models of ICT service production. Fortunately, I don’t do everything alone from start to finish, but I have a wide range of digital tools at my disposal to make everyday life smoother. My everyday life is largely built on the following tools:
• Microsoft Office 365 reports, presentations, analyses, and documentation
• Microsoft Teams are communication tools, communicating, meeting and sharing information. Teams are used in both internal and external meetings.
• ERP system is the backbone of service management and processes.
• Jira and Confluence a tool and storage for project management and agile methods
• CRM systems customer relationship management and sales monitoring
• Power BI a data visualization and decision-making tool
• Electronic signature and contract tools (such as Visma Sign) to streamline contract processes.
• Cloudia Contract Management
• Dooap managing the invoice process
• Nepton a working time monitoring system for working time monitoring and recording
• Populus HR system, absences and holiday applications
I have noticed over the years that one thing separates a smooth working day from a chaotic one: good tools. When working tools are in use, the work does not feel like a constant fire extinguishing, but a clear and manageable doing. Good tools free up time for thinking and help focus on where one’s expertise really is. They keep the team on the same map, reduce misunderstandings and make collaboration uncomplicated. When information travels and processes are transparent, decision-making also speeds up. Functional tools also have a direct impact on well-being. When the systems are not tangled and things are found where they should be, stress is reduced and the joy of work increases. At the same time, space is created for creativity and development of things that really move the team forward.
Nowadays, social media is such a close part of everyday life that it rarely comes to a stop to evaluate it. When you look a little further at its effects, you quickly notice that social media has two very different sides, it can be both an inspiring resource and a stressful distraction. The best parts of social media are about connections. It connects people whom they might otherwise never meet, reducing loneliness. Through it, you can find like-minded communities, share ideas, and get support. In addition, social media is a huge data bank. There you will find instructions, training, inspiration and current discussions on almost any topic. In working life, this can be seen, for example, as following new trends and developing competence. There is also a shadow side to some of them. Algorithms provide us with content that reinforces our own isolation and soon we find ourselves looking at the world from a very narrow perspective. In addition, applications are designed to be addictive. Endless browsing can take time, interfere with concentration and, at worst, interfere with sleep patterns and other social interactions. Another big challenge is comparison. Advertising-funded content and the glossy imagery of influencers can create unrealistic expectations that make your everyday life seem flat. This can reduce well-being and increase dissatisfaction. At least I have noticed that before social media I was much happier and more satisfied with my own life because there was no comparison base available. Fortunately, the disadvantages of social media can be controlled. There are good recommendations for brain-friendly use, for example, the Brain Association’s ten tips that help keep the use of social media moderate and supportive of well-being. In the end, it is about balance. Social media can be a great tool when used consciously and with respect for one’s own boundaries. When we learn to recognize when social media gives us energy and when it takes it away, we can take advantage of the best in it.
Reviewing five tools of social media
Miro
Miro brings clarity, speed and better collaboration between teams to my work. It serves as a visual workspace where ideation and process perception facilitate collaboration. Real-time collaboration facilitates team involvement and makes workshops smoother. Finished templates, voting tools, and presentation space save time. It also works great as a team ideation platform. Miro makes it easier to perceive the whole and supports me in my work in decision-making and prioritization.
YouTube
In my own work, I don’t use YouTube very much. In a few training sessions I have watched various targeted YouTube videos to help illustrate the content and learning provided by the training. YouTube usage and short videos help to better embrace new methods, tools and trends. YouTube also provides up-to-date information from industry experts and operators. The channel should be used more to present training materials and to support communication as well as to clarify content.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT acts as an agile helper in various tasks that facilitate everyday thinking, preparation and communication. I utilize and use ChatGPT in planning my work, scheduling, and writing clear messages to different stakeholders. ChatGPT also helps with structuring prioritization, drafting documentation, and finding new ideas or solutions. In addition, it supports continuous learning by providing quick explanations, comparisons, and perspectives without having to search for information from multiple sources. It does not replace normal basic tasks and tasks but makes the work much fluently and lighter.
LinkedIn helps to track industry trends and best practices in real time, because the platform is constantly used to share current articles, case examples and expert insights that can be utilized in my own work. Networking and collaboration opportunities: Through the platform, it is possible to create connections to the information flow and collaboration of other product owners, developers, marketing professionals and stakeholders.
Teams
The most important facilitator and enabler of my work is by far the Teams tool and making use of its various features. I work in a healthcare IT environment in a multi-supplier environment and with Teams I can manage entities more efficiently by utilizing a centralized way of communication and communication. I can see all the conversations and background information through the channels without any loose emails. This also enables a quick response through different stakeholders. Management and versioning of materials and files can be found in one place. Facilitation and management of meetings is effective e.g. through various workshop techniques (Whiteboard, Miro integrations). In Teams, I can also safely invite external players to participate, which facilitates co-creation without email rumba.
Elements of successful use of digital applications
Elements of successful use of digital applications Successful use of digital applications is based on several key elements that ensure efficiency, user-friendliness and business value of the application. These elements include user-centered design, which produces good user experience for users. The application’s clear and intuitive interface ensures ease of use. The application must be reliable and high-performance, resulting in an accessible and scalable application that is safe to use. Application Integrations with other systems, allowing the application to work with other tools and systems, making workflows more efficient. Successful deployment also requires familiarization of users and, if necessary, technical support. Taking these elements into account will help ensure that the digital application serves its users effectively while supporting business goals.
Self-evaluation
This task illustrated to myself how many different tools and digital environments I use on a daily basis. The mission also emphasized the importance of digital tools in various situations. In my role, the use of tools is now an absolute prerequisite for doing the work. The range of tools is huge and in many functions are, as a rule, the same. In other words, there is overlap. That is why it is important to find the best tools for yourself that make things easier and streamliner and ways of working.