One of the most overlooked challenges in Workday is not configuration.
It’s operational clarity.
In this second conversation with Kris Kelpe on Workday Gold, we explored the hidden operational layer inside Workday and how organizations can dramatically improve adoption through better navigation, report organization, and dashboard design.
One of the key ideas we discussed is that “Workday is tasks and reports, but that’s not a job.”
Employees do not think in terms of:
- Tasks
- Reports
- Integrations
- Security domains
They think in terms of getting work done.
That means organizations need to intentionally organize:
- Process steps
- Reports
- Training documentation
- Operational checklists
- Integrations
- Department-specific navigation
into experiences that actually match how teams operate.
We also spent time discussing the importance of techno-functional people. These are the employees who understand both the operational business process and enough of the Workday configuration side to bridge the gap between users and technology.
In many organizations, these people become the key drivers of adoption and operational maturity.
Another important takeaway was governance. Many organizations hesitate to empower users because they worry about control. But in reality, dashboards and navigation improvements are relatively low-risk compared to many other Workday changes. With the right processes and oversight, organizations can safely empower departments to improve their own user experience.
We also discussed how Hubs and dashboards work best together:
- Hubs help organize high-level navigation
- Dashboards create focused operational workspaces
The combination can significantly reduce confusion and support tickets.
At the end of the day, Workday adoption improves when employees can quickly find what they need and confidently complete their work.
That’s operational design.
If you want practical examples and implementation ideas, check out this week’s full episode of Workday Gold.
Listen here!
Keith Bitikofer is a Workday coach and consultant who helps professionals navigate their careers in the Workday ecosystem. Listen to the Workday Gold podcast for more insights on career transitions and leadership development here
Want to learn more from the Workday ecosystem? Connect with Keith Bitikofer on LinkedIn for ongoing insights about Workday support and team management.