Snowflake

OVERVIEW

The Snowflake platform dramatically simplifies and improves the way today’s Dynamic Organizations manage people and tasks.  Snowflake benefits both individuals and organizations.

Organizations consist of layers of relationships between people and between tasks - often including third parties.  Snowflake is an intelligent system that creates an environment where these relationships can be easily and effectively managed.

Snowflake is the only solution that manages your organization at the Task Level by automatically integrating the organizational chart and dashed line authority with Teams, Tasks and Processes - including third parties.  Snowflake accomplishes this via one simple and personalized web interface per user (your User Page).

Snowflake is a hosted web solution that provides unprecedented Task Level: Visibility Coordination and Control. Snowflake is easy to “implement” without analysts or even a system administrator. A Snowflake can be created for any level of the organization including group, department, division or enterprise. Create your Snowflake now and start using it today.

Price: The Beta version is available to use for FREE for a limited time. In the future, Snowflake will be available for a low monthly subscription rate including FREE automatic product upgrades that will be seamless to the User. This includes transition from the Beta version to the monthly subscription product.

Visibility: Views and Automated Notifications                                                 
Snowflake provides unprecedented Task Level Visibility by enabling Users to drill vertically and horizontally through their Dynamic Organization. Snowflake also generates an array of automated notifications that inform appropriate Users of updates and changes to their Snowflake’s Tasks, Teams, Processes and Direct Report(s).

Coordination:  Scheduling Engine
Snowflake’s Scheduling Engine automatically ensures each Task is scheduled during the specific window of time that optimizes work flow throughout the organization.

Control: Automated Authority Structure
The authority hierarchy within Snowflake is automatically mapped when a Snowflake and its Tasks, Teams, Processes and Direct Reports are created. This authority hierarchy is automatically enforced for all activities throughout the Snowflake Universe. Snowflake knows who each User is and the authorities they have. When a User tries to do something within Snowflake, the system recognizes if they have authority or automatically routes for approval if necessary. 

USER PAGE

User Pages are the fundamental building block of the ‘Snowflake Universe’. User Pages connect together to form Snowflakes and Snowflakes make up the Snowflake Universe.

Your User Page is created for you by your Manager unless you initially created the Snowflake.

A User Page contains: Header, Navigation Bar, Task Lists, Task Buttons and Group and Team ‘windows’ (boxes).

At the top of each User Page is the Header. The Header contains important information about the User Page including: Date,Snowflake address (Snowflake Name/Page Name), Department and User Page’s id number.

Below the header on each User Page, is the Navigation Bar. The Navigation Bar contains: 1st User Page (only shown on the Navigation Bar if you have no Manager Page), Password, Create A Task, Direct Report(s), Team(s) and Email Address.

Every User Page and every Team Page has a Task List. When a Task is created, it goes onto the Task List of the Task Manager’s User Page and Task Performer’s User Page and if it is attached to a Team, it also goes on the Team’s Task List.

Task Buttons enable the User to work with existing Tasks. Task Buttons are a part of Task Lists and are located at the bottom of all Task Lists. To use a Task Button, you must first select a Task on the Task List. This is done by simply left clicking on the desired Task’s row. Once a Task has been highlighted, select the button associated with what you want to do.

The 4 boxes at the bottom of the User Page are the Group and Team ‘windows’ (boxes) these navigation aids open ‘window’s’ into your organization.  The 4 boxes are: Managed Group, Member Group, Teams Managed and Teams Member.  These boxes are also on your view of your Direct Report(s) User Pages, enabling you to drill down into your organization.

Click here for more details on User Pages.

As a Snowflake User, you can be the Manager and/or Member of as many Teams as you would like.  Teams you Manage will be listed in a box on your User Page located in the lower right corner called ‘Teams Managed’.  Teams you are Member of but not the Manager of will show up in a box in the lower right corner called ‘Teams Member’.  If you click on a Team Name in these boxes, a ‘window’ will open that contains the shared Team Page. 

Team pages identify the Team’s Name and visibility along with its Manager, Members and Goal/Purpose.  Each Team Page also contains a Task List and Buttons via which viewers can work with the Tasks attached to the Team.

A Team’s creator is its initial Manager.  A Team’s Manager has an automated authority over their Team and its Tasks. 

Via the User Page’s Navigation Bar, Users can create and view Teams and Team Managers can invite and remove Team Members, Modify team details, Change the Team’s Manager and Delete their Teams.

Dashed Line Authority can be created using Teams and Tasks.

Click here for more details on Teams.

TASKS & PROCESSES

Tasks are created via the ‘Create A Task’ option on your User Page’s Navigation Bar and they can be viewed, modified or deleted via Task Lists and Task Buttons.

Snowflake is a smart system and if the recipient of a Task you create is outside your direct authority, the system will automatically send a request to the person you are assigning the Task to. That person has the opportunity to accept or reject the Task.  Everyone within your direct authority will automatically be given the Task you assign.

Changes to Tasks can be made through the Task Lists and the Task Buttons.  If you do not have authority over the Task you are attempting to Modify, your requested Task Changes will be routed to the appropriate authority for approval.

Every User Page (including your view of your Direct Reports Pages) and every Team Page has a Task List. When a Task is Created, it goes onto the Task List of the Task Manager’s and Task Performer’s User Page. If it is attached to a Team, it also goes on the Team Page’s Task List.

Task Buttons enable the User to work with existing Tasks. Task Buttons are a part of Task Lists and are located at the bottom of all Task Lists. To use a Task Button, you must first select a Task on the Task List. This is done by simply left clicking on the desired Task’s row. Once a Task has been highlighted, select the button associated with what you want to do.

Task buttons include: View Definition & Request Status Update; View Sub-Tasks; Change Task; Change Task Manager; Change Task Performer; Change Task Dependencies; and Delete Task
A Task’s Manager has an automated authority over the Task.  Tasks can also be used to create Dashed Line Authority.

Click here for more details on Creating Tasks and Task Buttons.

UNIVERSE

User Pages within a Snowflake are automatically aware of their hierarchical relationships and authorities with each other (organizational chart type relationships and authorities).

User Pages within the same Snowflake, or User Pages from different Snowflakes, can integrate with each other at the Task, Team and Process level.

Create your Snowflake now, it’s fast and easy to do. You can then easily create User Pages for your Direct Report(s). Your Direct Report(s) can create User Pages for their Direct Report(s) and so on. This process creates the unique shape of your Snowflake.  You can then create Tasks, Teams and Processes.

You can click on a Direct Report(s) name listed on your User Page to see your view of their User Page (what they are working on and the status of their Tasks, Teams and Processes).  You can also drill down to see your view of the User Pages of those who report to your Direct Report(s) and so on.

User Pages that have Direct Report(s) are also the Manager Page of their immediate Direct Report(s). Manager Page(s) have an automated authority over their immediate Direct Report(s).

Dashed Line Authority can be created with Snowflake through the use of Tasks and Teams.

Every User Page within the entire Snowflake Universe is uniquely identified by its Snowflake Address.  Your Snowflake address is your Snowflake Name/Page Name. For example: ABCcompany/John.

For more details see Getting Started in Snowflake.

Invite Someone to start their own Snowflake and join the Snowflake Universe. You can then integrate with them at the Task, Team and Process level.

For more Snowflake details, please see the Overview, User Page, Team Page and Tasks tabs above as well at the Demo and User Guide.