MC1111779 – (Updated) Self-nomination as a community expert in Viva Engage communities (archived)

Product:

Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Viva Engage

Platform:

Online, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Self-nomination for community experts in Viva Engage will be available from early to late July 2025. Members can request to become experts via a new link, and admins can review and manage these requests. Admins can also disable the self-nomination feature if desired. No tenant-level action is required.

Details:
Updated July 18, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing the Community Expert experience in Viva Engage by introducing a self-nomination feature. This empowers community members to express interest in becoming experts, streamlining the process for admins and encouraging broader participation.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability rollout begins early July 2025 and is expected to complete by late July 2025 (previously mid-July).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-07-09

updated:
2025-07-19

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Engagement Impact
Without proper preparation, the introduction of the self-nomination feature may lead to an overwhelming number of requests from users, causing confusion and potential delays in the approval process for community admins.
   - roles: Community Admins, End Users
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-viva-blog/introducing-self-nomination-for-community-experts-in-viva/ba-p/1234567

Admin Management Overload
If community admins are not prepared for the influx of requests, they may struggle to manage and review the nominations effectively, leading to frustration among users and potential disengagement from the community.
   - roles: Community Admins, Community Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/07/18/introducing-new-features-in-viva-engage/

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're running a club or a professional association. In this group, there are certain members who are recognized as experts because they have a lot of knowledge or experience in a particular area. Traditionally, these experts might be chosen by the club's leadership or by a vote among members. Now, imagine there's a new system where any member who feels they have the expertise can raise their hand and say, "I want to be considered an expert." This is similar to what Microsoft Viva Engage is introducing with its self-nomination feature for community experts.

In the context of Viva Engage, this means that any member of a community can click a new link to express their interest in becoming an expert. It's like putting your name forward for a leadership role in your club. Once a member clicks this link, they can see what being an expert entails and submit their request to be considered.

For those managing the community, or the "admins," this feature makes it easier to see who wants to step up and take on more responsibility. Admins will get a notification when someone submits a request, allowing them to review and decide whether to approve or deny it. It's similar to a club president reviewing applications for a committee chair position.

Moreover, admins have the flexibility to turn off this self-nomination feature if they feel it's not suitable for their community. This is like a club deciding that, for now, they'll stick with the traditional method of selecting experts rather than opening it up for self-nominations.

No major changes are needed at the organizational level to accommodate this new feature. It's a simple update that gives more control to community admins and encourages members to take an active role in their communities. This update aims to foster greater engagement and participation, much like encouraging more members to take leadership roles in a club or association.