Democratization and Acculturation: Empowering Employees with Data Skills

Introduction

In this blog, we delve into the democratization and acculturation of data at BPCE Group, shedding light on the significance of training, community animation, and reaching a wide audience through acculturation campaigns. Join us as we explore the successful data visualization project for Paul Biya’s Group and the impact of democratization in business.

Lunch with Ludovic Fabre from BPCE Group

• Ludovic Fabre is the director of establishment relations, democratization, and data support at BPCE Group, the second-largest banking group in France.

• BPCE Group consists of 42 companies, including popular banks, savings banks, subsidiaries like Palatine Bank, Natixis, and others. Each entity has a data manager responsible for managing data transformation and creating a local dynamic around data and digital subjects.

• The democratization and acculturation of data within the group is achieved through a collaborative approach, focusing on sharing best practices and structuring energies from all entities for national success.

• The democratization and acculturation team at BPCE Group has been working on this subject for two and a half years, emphasizing the importance of listening, sharing, and building a team of competent individuals with a passion for sharing and human relationship building.

• Ludovic Fabre highlights the significance of being at the service of others and the role of acculturation as a story of human qualities and expertise, aiming to improve employee skills and cultural understanding within the organization.

The Concept of Democratization in Business

• Democratization in business, as defined by Yves Tyrode, the general director of the BPCE group, involves three main pillars.

• The first pillar focuses on training and identifying experts within the organization, such as those in marketing, risk management, and banking services, and providing them with necessary skills development.

• The second pillar involves creating communities of interest to facilitate continued learning and knowledge sharing among the trained experts, such as the successful example of the Power BI data visualization tool.

• The third pillar addresses the acculturation of non-experts within the company, aiming to integrate them into the democratization process and foster a culture of shared learning and innovation.

Understanding the Importance of Acculturation and Training in Community Animation

• Out of a group of 2000 people in a regional bank or credit union, there are around 40 experts who are involved in data-related activities on a daily basis. The remaining 98% consists of approximately 1960 non-experts, including front office staff, managers, and IRPs.

• The objective is to understand the needs of the non-expert staff in relation to data, and to raise their awareness and develop their critical judgment. This acculturation process creates a foundation for developing and implementing projects with greater precision.

• The approach involves training and acculturating a small group of people who can then influence and support a larger community. The focus is on developing a team of 15 people who can positively impact a much larger group of 100,000 employees by sharing their knowledge and expertise.

• An important indicator used to measure the success of training and acculturation is the Net Promoter Score (NPS). This score is applied to assess the satisfaction and readiness of employees to promote the services offered at each stage of the training and acculturation process.

• The NPS results for training, animation, and acculturation systems have been positive, with scores rarely dropping below 35 for training, below 40 for animation, and close to 50 for acculturation. This indicates that the approach is effective in engaging and satisfying the employees.

• The key to success lies in addressing concrete actions and topics that resonate with the daily realities of the employees, thus fostering genuine interest and engagement. The focus is on touching the hearts of the employees by discussing subjects that are relevant and successful in practice.

Reaching a Wide Audience through Acculturation

• The speaker and their team had previously launched a device called ‘Questions for a Data Champion’ to engage employees in understanding data.

• Their initial goal was to reach 20% of the 20,000 employees, but they only managed to reach around 3,000, which left them somewhat disappointed.

• They realized the importance of tailoring the communication about data quality to the daily life of individual customer advisors, and thus launched short, 20-30 minutes sessions to discuss relevant subjects.

• Through an acculturation campaign focused on data quality, the team managed to engage a wide audience, including business owners and establishments, by emphasizing the support provided and the benefits of proper data entry.

• The speaker highlighted the importance of gaining support from managers and leaders, as it required conviction and relationship-building skills to promote and ensure the success of the acculturation programs.

Successful Data Visualization Project for Paul Biya’s Group

• The data toro project, launched in early 2021, aimed to raise awareness of Paul Biya’s influence in various establishments.

• The project successfully engaged 25 companies and 123 employees in developing and implementing power BI solutions.

• A rigorous four-month process led the teams through stages of guinea pig reporting, culminating in a defense sequence before a jury of group leaders.

• Surprisingly, four teams garnered strong support from the leaders, ultimately becoming sponsors and ambassadors of the visualization system.

• The emphasis on democratization, training, and community animation highlighted the need for sharing experiences and feedback among companies.

• The discussion concluded with an invitation for further collaboration and knowledge sharing with counterparts.

Conclusion

The journey of democratization and acculturation at BPCE Group highlights the transformative power of training, community animation, and reaching a wide audience. It showcases the impact of empowering employees with data skills and fostering a culture of shared learning and innovation within the organization. The successful data visualization project for Paul Biya’s Group further exemplifies the collaborative and empowering nature of democratization in business.

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