Summary
Join panel moderator Maisee Xiong and Salesforce DesignOps practitioners for a conversation about what it means to build values-driven DesignOps programs, tools and relationships in order to cultivate belonging and prepare our global design teams to deliver their best work. Together we will: Discuss practical ways to weave values into our Ops work Consider what’s necessary to build community and culture for hybrid design teams Understand how effective onboarding tools can help new team members feel welcome Identify the design practices and tools that keep teams and leaders aligned
Key Insights
-
•
Including physical descriptions during virtual meetings fosters inclusivity for visually impaired team members.
-
•
Salesforce's V2MOM framework (Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, Measures) aligns personal, team, and company values strategically.
-
•
Prioritizing design Ops initiatives through core values helps focus teams on work that builds connection, clarity, scalability, and kindness.
-
•
Slack workflows automate routine check-ins and gratitude sharing, enhancing remote team connection with minimal effort.
-
•
Regular peer recognition practices like 'Shout Out Thursdays' increase community and morale with low implementation effort.
-
•
Revamped onboarding processes developed with direct new hire input increase engagement and make remote welcome experiences feel supportive and confident.
-
•
Consistent, transparent communication from leadership, via structured cadences and messaging, builds trust and clarity across distributed teams.
-
•
Values serve as an anchor during rapid organizational change, helping teams to maintain trust and a cohesive culture.
-
•
Using design thinking principles such as user interviews and prototyping enhances the effectiveness of internal process improvements.
-
•
Addressing misalignment around values is best handled through private one-on-ones that explore individual perspectives before attempting realignment.
Notable Quotes
"We do this with intention of fostering a more inclusive experience for audience members who might be sight impaired."
"The V2MOM stands for Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, and Measures and is a framework every Salesforce employee uses."
"Our value of connection is brought to life through team offsites and weekly meetings with intentional moments to build connection."
"Showing gratitude through Slack workflows is a low effort, high impact way to build community and recognize everyday wins."
"Onboarding feels like somebody's holding your hand, even though you're remote, which makes a huge difference."
"Clear and consistent communication really keeps design leadership accountable and promotes transparency via knowledge sharing."
"Values determine the team environment you create; they permeate through leadership and affect performance and happiness."
"Trust takes time, hard work, and consistency to build, especially in times of change when time is a luxury we don't have."
"Always remember the power of your values in times of doubt and change; lean into what your team really stands for."
"If you find someone not following values, start with a one-on-one to understand their point of view and realign together."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"I underestimated how much identity our team tied to UX and how scary that loss felt to many of them."
Nalini KotamrajuResearch After UX
March 25, 2024
"Constraints can channel focus, but being stuck in them limits potential."
Dean BroadleyNot Black Enough to be White
January 8, 2024
"We’re not going for perfection. We’re going for excellence and change."
Denise Jacobs Nancy Douyon Renee Reid Lisa WelchmanInteractive Keynote: Social Change by Design
January 8, 2024
"People problems find their way to design ops because we’re known problem solvers and people run to us when morale is low."
Kim Fellman CohenMeasuring the Designer Experience
October 23, 2019
"What is design’s relationship to power and privilege? Which humans do we center when we say human-centered design?"
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"I don't want a component library for the account home. I want a system for all of that."
Nathan CurtisBeyond the Toolkit: Spreading a System Across People & Products
June 9, 2016
"We focus on delivering high quality but also moving fast—being comfortable negotiating that tension is important."
Greg PetroffThe Compass Mission
March 10, 2021
"Budget and time are the enemies of inclusivity in research."
Chloe Amos-EdkinsA Cultural Approach: Research in the Context of Glocalisation
March 27, 2023
"The new site had a 19% dropout rate compared to 32% on the old site, showing clear improvement."
Mackenzie Cockram Sara Branco Cunha Ian FranklinIntegrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research from Discovery to Live
December 16, 2022