Teams, Values & Time @ Tidal Interactive by Diana Thomson

Teams

The company seems to be broken into teams a couple of different ways. Initially it is based on whether you are on the development side, or the project management / information architecture / strategy side of the office. Second to that, it is dependent on which projects you are working on. There is often a lot of collaboration between the project teams simply to get a second opinion, come with new ideas, or just to make sure that nothing was missed before it is presented to the client. So far, I have worked mostly with the Project Managers / Information Architects / Strategy teams having collaborated with each person on multiple projects. I have been involved in Usability Projects, Project Management, and Information Architecture.

Values

Tidal Interactive has clearly defined its core values, and is dedicated to ensuring they are are honored. Customer satisfaction is expected, however Tidal strives to ensure each client is a “raving fan”. They go above and beyond with small to large gestures to ensure a positive outcome.

This strategy has worked well as the company currently gets most of its business from referrals and repeat business / long term projects. Part of ensuring a positive outcome is accountability and teamwork. They keep their word and do everything possible to ensure that what they say is what they complete. Teams are collaborative and innovative – coming up with the best solutions for their clients needs.

Lastly, the company is comprised of a unique group of people, all with a different set of skills to bring to the table. There is one distinct characterization that encompasses every individual on the team – leadership. Everyone takes ownership of their piece, and everyone is willing to help and brainstorm to come up with awesome solutions.

Time

Beginning the day at 9am, we spend the first 15 minutes going through emails, check on meetings, and take note of our day’s “to do list”. At 9:15am the entire team meets and one by one, we go through our tasks for the day.

Following the scrum, the day is directed by meetings, deadlines, milestones, and any of many other things that can come up. It is different every day, with a variety of tasks, projects, collaborations, meetings, brainstorming sessions etc.

After a month, I can say that approximately 20% of my time is spent in meetings – this includes team meetings, as well as client meetings. 70% of my time is spent doing different billable tasks including Project Management Documentation, Information Architecture, Usability Testing and Reporting. A lot of these projects are completed on my own, however there is also a lot of collaboration with other team members on documentation and information architecture. The final 10% of the day is spent drinking coffee, eating lunch, and enjoying the friday afternoon beers – compliments of the owner.

Tags: Diana Thomson, information architecture, intern, internship, Project Manager, Tidal Interactive