PBS

PBS wanted a better system to provide stations across the US the tools and support they need for daily job performance and communication with PBS headquarters. PBS contracted Apollo Matrix to architect and design My PBS, their extranet and primary system where essential programming, scheduling, fundraising, marketing, branding and organizational information is shared to both stations and PBS headquarters.

Apollo started this project by facilitating interviews for PBS and station employees across all core functional areas. We asked interviewees to describe their jobs starting from when they start their day to when they leave in the evening. We reviewed and highlighted critical processes they performed to fulfill their core job duties from scheduling to communication to what databases they use to access files and reports. Along with the key business objectives and technical framework, these interviews helped inform the basis for the information architecture and overall strategy around the user experience.

The information architecture and user experience strategy direction revealed that by focusing on the programming at its core, all the cross-functional areas could tap into this core as a means to share knowledge and perform critical job functions. As the structure started to take form, Apollo conducted another series of cross-functional interviews to further refine the needs for individual screens in the system. Apollo designed the user experience by producing a series of wireframes to meet the individual needs and integrate with existing and future systems that were currently in development. My PBS Groupspace was created to promote collaboration and social interaction between employees.

My PBS is a system designed with user-centric approach that helps boost employee engagement and streamline work processes so employees of stations and PBS headquarters can work together to perform the work they do every day.