How does SharedView make my Job Easy?
Let's get together and get this done
Want to see just how easy it can be to work together with Microsoft SharedView? Take a look at Leann's team-people who like to lead by example.
Leann works for a company called Litware Inc., which manufactures women's dress accessories.
Leann just finished putting the final touches on her spring lineup of handbags. She and her entire team have been trying hard to have everything available for next month’s runway debut. She needs everyone to look at the final design and ensure that it is ready to go to production today. Bill, Sung, and Felipe are just down the hall, but Kara and Elka are each at a different vendor’s site, working out production details. Leann has sent each of them a calendar event, so everyone should be ready for a quick review and approval.
Start the meeting
Leann starts by opening Microsoft SharedView and signing in by using her e-mail address (Leann@Litwareinc.com, which she used to create her Windows Live™ ID).
Now she is ready to start a session and invite attendees by e-mail. SharedView automatically generates an e-mail message that contains instructions for joining the session. Leann addresses the e-mail message to the team members, adds a start time, and then sends the message. She has ten minutes before the team is scheduled to join the session, so she does the following:
1. Opens the Word document that contains the final design and then shares it. Her desktop and other open applications are not as bright as the shared Word document, which makes it easy to know what is shared.
2. Posts a couple of handouts for the session, including the budget and schedule, so that everyone can download them if needed.
3. Previews the shared Portfolio exactly as attendees will see it.
Everyone join in
The team members received Leann’s invitation, so at 10:00 each of them joins the session by using the ID (Leann@Litwareinc.com) that was provided in the invitation to identify the session. Everyone has done this before, so they know to check for handouts and download them if needed.
Leann approves the participation of each team member as each connects. Leann explains that she needs everyone to review and approve the portfolio by the end of the session, because the vendors are waiting for the final changes to start production.
Just a few changes...
Leann shared the Word document, so she has control of the Word program. She flips through the portfolio pages, pointing out items that have changed since the previous review.
Elka notices a problem with the clasp of a handbag, and so on page 8, Elka points at the clasp of the handbag with her cursor. The other team members know that it is Elka, because her name is displayed next to the pointer. The clasp is a problem because the vendor does not have the exact hardware that is shown in the design. Elka takes control of the session, quickly cuts and pastes an image of the new clasp into the document, and then adds a comment that contains the part number and a notation to update the specifications with the new number. The changes are automatically tracked and identified as Elka’s. Everyone agrees the new clasp is perfect, and the cost is the same, so there is no impact to the budget.
Leann takes control of Word again and continues through the designs. At a couple of points, Bill takes control to clarify the color selections for a couple of bags. The designs are now final.
Done!
Everyone signs the Approvals page of the portfolio. Tracked changes identify each “signature” (just for the record). Leann stops sharing the application and signs out. Start production!
Your turn
Leann's team uses SharedView a lot. Try it yourself, and see just how effective collaboration can be. If you need help with anything, review the table of contents for user assistance articles.
And if you encounter any difficulties, the Having Problems? page can help you find solutions.