MC809600 – Microsoft Viva Engage: Update on community muting for admins (archived)

Product:

Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Viva Engage

Platform:

World tenant, Online

Status:

Change type:

Feature update, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Viva Engage will update the community muting feature for admins, affecting visibility of conversations for dynamically added members in Home Feed and digest emails. The rollout is automatic, starting and completing mid-July 2024, with no required admin action before the rollout. Users should be notified.

Details:
Coming soon for Microsoft Viva Engage: The community muting feature for admins is changing. Before this rollout, when admins muted a community, only users who were not members of the community would no longer see conversations from this community appear in their Home Feed, weekly discovery email, or daily digest email.
After this rollout, members who were dynamically added into the community (as part of a Dynamic Group) will also no longer see conversations appear in their Home feed, weekly discovery email, or daily digest emails. Other users who have voluntarily joined the community will continue to see conversations appear normally in their Home Feed and digest emails as before.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by mid-July 2024.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2024-07-09

updated:
2024-07-09

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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MS workload name

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Direct effects for Operations**

- Impact on IT Operations
- Changes in visibility settings for community conversations may lead to confusion among users regarding what content they can access.
- Roles impacted: IT Support Staff, Community Managers
- Reference: [Microsoft Documentation on Viva Engage](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/viva/engage/?view=o365-worldwide)

- Impact on IT Services
- The automatic rollout of the updated community muting feature may require adjustments in monitoring tools to ensure that user engagement metrics remain accurate.
- Roles impacted: IT Operations Managers, Data Analysts
- Reference: [Microsoft Viva Engage Updates](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-viva-blog/microsoft-viva-engage-community-muting-update-for-admins/ba-p/3856785)

- Impact on IT Users
- Users who are dynamically added to communities may experience a lack of awareness regarding ongoing conversations, potentially leading to disengagement or misinformation.
- Roles impacted: End Users, Team Members
- Reference: [User Experience with Microsoft Viva Engage](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/06/15/introducing-microsoft-viva-engage-a-new-way-to-connect-and-engage-with-your-organization/)

- Impact on IT Administrators
- Administrators will need to prepare communication strategies to inform users about the changes, which may require additional resources and time.
- Roles impacted: IT Administrators, Communication Managers
- Reference: [Change Management Best Practices](https://www.prosci.com/resources/articles/change-management-best-practices)

- Dependencies and Interdependencies
- The update may affect integrations with other Microsoft 365 services, such as Teams and SharePoint, which rely on community engagement for collaboration.
- Roles impacted: IT Integration Specialists, Project Managers
- Reference: [Microsoft 365 Integration Overview](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/integrations)

Opportunities**

- Enhance User Experience with Community Engagement
- Leverage the updated community muting feature to improve user experience by ensuring that only relevant conversations are visible to dynamically added members.
- Roles benefiting: Community Managers, HR Teams, and Team Leaders who rely on effective communication within communities.

- Streamline Communication Management
- Utilize the new muting feature to reduce noise in Home Feeds and digest emails, allowing admins to curate content more effectively and focus on important discussions.
- Roles benefiting: IT Administrators and Communication Officers who manage community engagement and information flow.

- Optimize Training and Documentation
- Update training materials and documentation to reflect the changes in community muting, ensuring that users understand how to manage their notifications and community interactions effectively.
- Roles benefiting: Training Coordinators and IT Support Staff who assist users in navigating the platform.

- Monitor Community Engagement Metrics
- Post-rollout, analyze engagement metrics to assess the impact of the muting feature on community participation and adjust strategies accordingly to enhance user engagement.
- Roles benefiting: Data Analysts and Community Managers who track user engagement and community health.

- Cost-Effective Licensing Management
- Review licensing needs based on the updated feature to ensure that only necessary licenses are maintained, potentially reducing costs associated with unused or unnecessary licenses.
- Roles benefiting: IT Finance Managers and Procurement Officers responsible for managing software licensing and costs.

References:
- Microsoft Viva Engage Documentation: [Microsoft Viva Engage](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-viva/engage)
- Community Management Best Practices: [Community Management](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/01/10/the-importance-of-community-management-in-the-digital-age/?sh=1f1f9d6e4f4e)

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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