Strategic Plan Template

This template will help you plan your Yammer network launch. Once completed, it will serve as your strategic plan – from high-level vision to logistical launch details. It will help you stay on course, align with key stakeholders and clearly communicate the value of Yammer to your organization.

AgendaDefine Your Vision

Strategic Plan

Outline Use Cases

Identify Business Outcomes

Identify Key Stakeholders

Build a Launch Checklist

Define Your Vision

What is a Vision Statement?A vision statement is a 1-4 sentence description that defines the value of Yammer to your company and its employees. Vision statements help your coworkers and leaders understand the benefits of Yammer, which is key to getting their buy-in and support.  

Examples of Vision Statements

1. Transforming the way our department connects with each other, works together on tasks or projects, communicates with leadership, and streamlines processes for efficiency and clarity.  

2. We create a safe and open collaboration platform for easy sharing of company data and news between employees to improve efficient execution of our strategies as part of our culture of performance.

Draft Your Vision StatementDraft your Yammer Vision Statement in 1-4 sentences, ideally in cooperation with company executives, department heads and other stakeholders.

Identify Business Outcomes

Why Identify Business Outcomes?Defining clear business outcomes helps you focus your efforts on actionable goals that Yammer can help you achieve. When drafting business outcomes, consider involving company leaders and members of high-priority departments.

Examples of Business Outcomes

MarketingStay connected to what customers are thinking.

Accelerate campaign and collateral execution.

Collaborate with agencies closely and securely.

Human ResourcesAccelerate the onboarding process.

Increase employee retention.

Build a unified culture.

SalesCreate a unified experience for all customers across product lines and geographies.

Accelerate the sales cycle.

Share competitive intelligence faster.

Draft Your Business OutcomesWith your vision in mind, put together a list of business outcomes that Yammer can help your company achieve.

Department 1

Outcome

Outcome

Outcome

Department 3

Outcome

Outcome

Outcome

Department 2

Outcome

Outcome

Outcome

Identify Key Stakeholders

Who Are the Key Stakeholders?Use the Guide to Network Roles to decide which roles are right for your launch team. Enlist your coworkers to fulfill these roles as you launch your network. The most successful Yammer rollouts occur when a committed team of individuals representing many lines of businesses clearly understands their roles and responsibilities.

Identify Key StakeholdersFill in the table below with the details of your launch team.

Role Responsibilities Department Name(s)

Project Manager Oversee the entire launch execution and rollout process.

Community Manager

Manage day-to-day network activity; provide guidance and best practices.

Executive Sponsor Communicate high-level vision and values of Yammer to the company.

Power Users Help train users and manage objection handling.

IT Specialist Oversee all technical aspects of the rollout, including integrations.

Business Owner Provide guidance, approval and support throughout the rollout.

Group Leaders Identify how specific departments will use Yammer; encourage engagement.

Education Lead Manage and communicate training content about Yammer.

HR Manager Integrate Yammer into HR processes and manage HR content on Yammer.

Communication Lead

Oversee company-wide communications about Yammer.

Outline Use Cases

What is a Use Case?A use case explains how a specific Yammer feature can improve a work-related activity and help achieve your business outcomes. Construct a use case like this: For each business outcome, describe a practical action necessary to achieve the outcome. Then, identify a Yammer feature that can help complete this action.

Examples of Use Cases

MarketingBusiness outcome. Stay connected to what customers are thinking.

Practical action. Understand customer needs as soon as they develop and change.

Yammer feature. Create a Yammer group and encourage customer-facing teams to post feedback customers give them. Use the feedback to inform marketing decisions.

Human ResourcesBusiness outcome. Accelerate the employee onboarding process.

Practical action. Answer questions and review paperwork faster.

Yammer feature. Create an external network and invite new hires to connect with senior employees there to learn about the company. Use the group to post key HR documents and answer questions.

SalesBusiness outcome. Create a unified experience for all customers across product lines and geographies.

Practical action. Answer customer questions quickly and consistently.

Yammer feature. Create public groups in Yammer for your sales and customer service teams. Have employees share the latest decisions & developments for everyone to see.

Identify Yammer Use CasesMeet with functional teams in your organization to identify ways that Yammer can improve work-related activities in a practical way, so you can achieve key business outcomes.

Department 1Business outcome.

Practical action.

Yammer feature.

Department 2Business outcome.

Practical action.

Yammer feature.

Department 3Business outcome.

Practical action.

Yammer feature.

Build A Launch Checklist

What is a Launch Checklist?A launch checklist helps you organize the key aspects of your launch, like communications and events, so you can keep your launch on track.

Build Your Launch Checklist

Time Communication or Event Owner(s) Status

Now Meet with stakeholders to define you vision, identify business outcomes & develop use cases.

Now Create a Yammer Help Group and upload educational content.

Now Create a Yammer Ideas Group. Throughout the launch process, encourage your coworkers to share ideas here about how Yammer can help improve work processes at your company.

3-4 weeks before launch

Send executive email introduction.

2 weeks before launch

Send department introductions via email.

2 weeks before launch

Notify your company about the launch YamJam, trainings and Lunch & Learn.

1 week before launch

Remind your company about the launch YamJam, trainings and Lunch & Learn.

Week of launch Host training with first high-priority department.

Week of launch Host training with second high-priority department.

Week of launch Host training with third high-priority department.

Week of launch Host Lunch & Learn.

Week of launch Host YamJam.

Select communications and events for your launch and organize them here in chronological order.