A new version of the online networking tool is now available for staff.
Yammer [Raven login required] has become a thriving online space for staff to share best practice, ask questions and connect with like-minded colleagues on work-related and personal interests. Initially launched in 2008, the University was already using Yammer when it was bought by Microsoft in 2012. This meant we had an old version that didn’t connect with the rest of the University’s Microsoft products. While not an urgent issue, over time, this resulted in our platform no longer being supported.
As a result, the Collaboration Tools team in University Information Services and the Internal Communications team in the Office of External Affairs and Communications decided to close the old version and relaunch Yammer to staff in a way that integrated with the other Microsoft products that the University uses. Now we have an updated platform with improved functionality that will be regularly upgraded in the future.
A month after its reboot, Yammer now has more than 4,000 members of staff who have joined and regularly sees over 1,800 people using the platform every working day. It seems to be more popular than ever with more than 10,000 visits to the All University feed in its second full week since relaunch, up from over 7,500 in week one. Nearly 20 staff communities have now been created on the platform, covering a range of topics, from University initiatives like the HR Transformation Programme to staff networks such as the Leaders and Managers Network and Disabled Staff Network. Others include shared personal interests. Staff can create a community on Yammer via the request a community form.
So if you have yet to discover it as a way of connecting and communicating, why not give it a go?
If you have any questions about using Yammer, please email internalcomms@admin.cam.ac.uk.