“The real added value of GPAL is the innovative results of instructional videos. With all the digitalization we see in our daily lives, it only seems logical that our workplaces will become digitized too.”
Penitentiary institution Dordrecht is one the institutions within DJI who are already using GPAL. They successfully show how GPAL can be employed to accelerate and digitize the Onboarding process.
The Challenge
“New employees are often faced with a substantial gap in their knowledge when they begin working [at PI Dordrecht]. With GPAL we are trying to reduce these gaps in knowledge, and due to the visual aspect of the videos this happens even faster.”
New employees have to familiarize themselves with many diverse procedures and tasks at PI Dordrecht. From the moment the new employee enters the building, questions arise such as: How does the detection procedure work? How do I safely store my keys? and How do I use the radio? These are some of the questions the new employee is immediately confronted with and is supposed to know. For this reason, the Onboarding process often takes a long time and sometimes even a formal course needs to be followed simultaneously. The goal of using GPAL was to shorten this Onboarding process with visual instructional videos, always available in the mobile App. These videos allow new employees to familiarize themselves with procedures faster, reduce the lack of knowledge, and helps them acquire new skills.
The challenge is clear: Accelerating Onboarding for new employees at PI Dordrecht via short instructional videos in the GPAL App.
The Approach
PI Dordrecht used the GPAL Sprint method to organize and facilitate short-term projects. The first project was focused on a general introduction of the workplace for new employees, which has now been successfully completed and is already in use. The second project, digitizing the Onboarding process of different functions via instructional videos, is still a work in progress. Where the first project is more generic and available to everyone, the latter is focused on function-specific instructions and tasks.
Project 1: Acquaintance with PI Dordrecht
The first project was started to welcome new employees and familiarize them with the structure of the organization. More experienced colleagues made short videos in which they introduced themselves and briefly explained their role within PI Dordrecht. In this manner, new employees can meet everyone in the organization, from those working in catering to the director. This immediately creates more engagement with new colleagues and the organization. It is therefore not that odd that these introduction videos are very popular and often get many positive reactions.
“In the introduction videos, everyone gets a chance to tell their own story, which makes the Onboarding process very personal. We often hear that new employees feel more included and at home faster.”
Watch the videos made by PI Dordrecht
Project 2: Digitizing Onboarding via video
Recently, a new project was started at PI Dordrecht. Namely, filming specific Onboarding processes for different functions. New employees can work in seven different departments within PI Dordrecht and therefore will have to receive an Onboarding process specific to their own function. That is why different Onboarding booklets are made for every function, provided with accompanying QR-codes and explanations. When the new employee scans the QR-code with the GPAL App, the right video will immediately come up.
“We combine the instructional videos in GPAL with the physical Onboarding booklet. The videos provide the information a lot faster and often give clarification. This is a very modern way of education.”
A fixed film team of three is sent into the organization to film different procedures. They visit different workplaces and create short instructional videos together with the employees. These are then shared in the GPAL app and made available to other colleagues. The enthusiastic members of the film team have become familiar faces within the organization and their enthusiasm is contagious. The ease with which videos can be made with GPAL (simply on a mobile device) makes employees more confident, which makes the filming process run smoothly.
By assigning a fixed film team, employees are included in the filming process, while maintaining a high standard for the videos.
“The enthusiasm of the film team is infectious. The employees are encouraged to contribute ideas and participate in making the videos. GPAL is really a product of everyone in the organization.”
Due to logistical problems, filming on a regular basis can be difficult at times. Suring Corona times it can be especially difficult to rearrange working schedules. GPAL’s 3-weekly sprint method proved to be of help in solving this problem. By appointing specific goals, filming happens more regularly, and it also keeps the project on people’s minds. Furthermore, the most important procedures are scheduled, and this schedule is already full till May next year! Also, an evaluation video about GPAL was made at PI Dordrecht.
The evaluation video made by PI Dordrecht
The Results
Accelerated Onboarding
The work-related tasks of employees at PI Dordrecht are very diverse. Due to the visual aspect of instructional videos, the new employees were able to learn the procedures in a shortened time period. Video instructions are also experienced as a more fun and effective way of Onboarding, because the videos are made by colleagues. GPAL makes the Onboarding process shorter, more efficient, and more fun.
“GPAL accelerates the whole procedure. You may not be able to explain something in-depth in a short instructional video, but it does provide employees with a much stronger foundation. Especially the younger colleagues seem to be very enthusiastic about GPAL.”
More engagement: for & by employees
Due to the personal elements of the introduction videos and the enthusiastic film team, the instructional videos are full of charisma and playful banter. This makes it truly a product of PI Dordrecht and new employees feel immediately included. Apart from the fact that videos are a more fun way to introduce colleagues, it also results in a quicker familiarization of procedures. It also creates a sense of pride and confidence when a good instructional video is made.
“It is very satisfying when a good idea or concept turns into a good instructional video. It is really fun to watch the result and it definitely adds to the pride and confidence that employees experience.”
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