Centre de services scolaire des Grandes-Seigneuries (CSSDGS) is a French-speaking public organization located in Montérégie. It serves a vast territory comprising 21 municipalities spread across the Roussillon and Jardins-de-Napierville RCMs. The organization has 6,920 staff members spread across several schools and administrative centers.
As part of a public tender, Nexus Innovation was commissioned to design and deploy a modern and scalable intranet within the CSSDGS. This large-scale project, structured in three phases, took place over nearly three years. The main objective was to provide the organization with a centralized internal communication tool capable of meeting its needs for information dissemination, interdepartmental collaboration, and simplified access to organizational resources.
Using a progressive and collaborative approach, Nexus supported the CSSDGS in implementing a robust technological solution, while taking into account the operational and human realities specific to an organization of this size.
Business objectives
The CSSDGS faced a common problem in large organizations: fragmented internal communication, often relayed by emails or PDF newsletters. The main objective was therefore to centralize and structure information to make it more accessible, relevant, and engaging for all employees.
- The intranet also needed to enable:
- Autonomous content management by different departments,
- A reduction in internal emails,
- An improved user experience through intuitive navigation and better readability of information.
Proposed solution
The chosen technological solution was based on SharePoint, enhanced with native modules and targeted customizations. The initial project consisted of three distinct phases, the first two of which were successfully completed. The third phase, focused on automation and advanced customization, was put on hold following a reassessment of organizational priorities.
- Phase 1: Implementation of the basic intranet on SharePoint. This phase made it possible to structure content, create templates for communications, and centralize information by department. Each department now has its own page, with the ability to publish content independently. This technological foundation has enabled the migration of internal communications to a unified platform, reducing dependence on email and facilitating access to information.
- Phase 2: Deployment of an employee directory synchronized with Active Directory (AD), allowing users to view employee profiles, contact details, and roles. This feature, integrated into the Microsoft environment, facilitates contact searches and interdepartmental communication. A simplified organizational calendar was also implemented, providing greater visibility into internal events and key dates.
- Phase 3 (not completed): This final step aimed to introduce workflow automation and advanced customizations to optimize internal processes. An analysis phase had been initiated, in particular to identify specific automation needs based on existing practices. However, the CSSDGS chose to put this phase on hold in order to focus on consolidating the achievements of the first two phases. This decision reflects a desire to progress at a pace that is appropriate to the organizational reality.
Impact on the organization
The first two phases of the project enabled the CSSDGS to take an important step toward better structuring internal information. The intranet now facilitates the dissemination of organizational communications, reduces dependence on email, and gives departments greater autonomy in managing their content.
As with any digital transformation project, widespread adoption of the solution takes time and requires the gradual mobilization of teams. The CSSDGS has chosen to consolidate the foundations that have been laid, demonstrating a desire to build on solid ground before moving forward.
Adoption of the solution
Nexus Innovations provided regular support throughout the project, including regular micro-training sessions for content managers. The CSSDGS project team was responsible for the overall adoption of the intranet internally. In fact, the implementation team particularly enjoyed working with our main contacts: Sylvie, Hélène, François, and Luc.
Change management for a project of this scale highlights the importance of a structured change management plan, particularly in large organizations.
Project team
The project was led by:
- Alexandra Lévy, Project Delivery Director
- Alicia Villeneuve, Agile Project Manager
- Joel Vezina, Microsoft Solutions Architecture Consultant
- Jacques-Alexandre Bergeron, Power Platform Specialist
On the CSSDGS side, communication was facilitated by the active involvement of the communications and information technology teams, whose collaboration was essential to the success of the phases carried out.
This project highlights an essential lesson: the success of an intranet depends not only on its technical design, but also on its ability to be adopted by all users. Nexus Innovation now recommends integrating a change management awareness component from the outset and offering external support when necessary. This maximizes the project’s impact and ensures
