Santos
For Santos, a world-renowned oil company based in Australia, I led both our internal team and their external team on the user experience side to build a comprehensive dashboard. This dashboard was designed to monitor the progress, cost, and performance of a $3 billion pipeline project in Alaska. Given Alaska’s rural nature, providing effective visualizations for off-site stakeholders was crucial. I integrated interactive buttons over a familiar map interface, enabling stakeholders to easily access progress updates for multiple sites within a single frame. Collaborating with an exceptional data engineering team, we successfully delivered a solution that enhanced project monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
I. Situation
Santos was embarking on a massive $3 billion pipeline project in Alaska, a region characterized by its remote and challenging environment. The company's key requirement was a user-friendly dashboard to monitor various aspects of the project, such as progress, cost, and performance. Due to the project's scale and the involvement of numerous off-site stakeholders, it was essential to create an intuitive and comprehensive visualization tool that could effectively convey real-time information.
II. Task
As the lead on the user experience side for the Santos project, my role involved directing both our internal team and Santos' external team to ensure a cohesive approach throughout the project. I was responsible for designing a dashboard that delivered clear and actionable insights into the project's progress, cost, and performance. The goal was to make the dashboard intuitive for all stakeholders, particularly those accessing it remotely, and to integrate interactive elements that enhanced user engagement and facilitated easy navigation between different project sites.
Collaboration with the data engineering team was crucial to ensure the seamless integration of data sources and real-time updates. One of the primary challenges was creating a system that was both functional and user-friendly for a diverse group of stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise. Additionally, we needed to ensure that the data presented was accurate and up-to-date, despite the remote and harsh conditions of the project site. By addressing these challenges through careful design and continuous feedback, we successfully delivered a dashboard that met the needs of all users.
III. Action
To meet the project’s objectives, we began with a thorough stakeholder analysis, engaging in detailed discussions with Santos' team to understand their specific needs, preferences, and pain points. This process was crucial in identifying the essential features and functionalities required for the dashboard. We then moved on to design and prototyping, where initial wireframes and prototypes were created with a focus on usability and visual appeal. These designs were iteratively refined based on feedback from stakeholders.
A key component of the project involved map integration. We overlaid interactive buttons on a map interface that was already familiar to the stakeholders, allowing them to access progress updates for multiple sites within a single frame and switch between them effortlessly. Collaborating closely with the data engineering team, we integrated real-time data feeds into the dashboard to ensure accurate and easily interpretable information.
Extensive user testing sessions were conducted with a diverse group of stakeholders to validate the dashboard’s usability and functionality. Adjustments were made based on their feedback to ensure a seamless user experience. Additionally, we provided training sessions and support materials to help stakeholders navigate and utilize the dashboard effectively.
Throughout the project, we encountered challenges such as ensuring real-time data accuracy and making the interface intuitive for all users. By maintaining open communication with stakeholders and iterating on our designs based on their feedback, we successfully addressed these issues and delivered a functional and effective dashboard.
IV. Results
The implementation of the dashboard for Santos resulted in several significant positive outcomes. Stakeholders were now able to monitor the progress, cost, and performance of the pipeline project in real-time. The interactive map interface enabled them to easily switch between multiple sites, providing a comprehensive view of the entire project. This capability was crucial for effective oversight and management.
The intuitive design and clear visualizations of the dashboard greatly enhanced decision-making processes. Reports indicated a significant improvement in the speed at which decisions were made, thanks to the clarity and accessibility of the data presented. Additionally, the user-friendly interface and interactive elements led to a 20% increase in stakeholder engagement compared to previous tools.
The dashboard also provided valuable insights into cost and performance metrics, which allowed Santos to identify areas for improvement. This resulted in an increase in project efficiency and a 15% reduction in costs due to better resource allocation. Feedback from stakeholders was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the dashboard's ease of use and the clarity of the information. User satisfaction surveys showed a remarkable 90% approval rate, reflecting the dashboard's effectiveness in meeting stakeholder needs.
Leading this project taught me the importance of user-centric design in complex, high-stakes environments. By effectively communicating with stakeholders and collaborating with a talented data engineering team, we were able to deliver a solution that significantly improved project monitoring and decision-making for Santos.