Always Improve: A Look at the Reorganization of Our Business & Technical Teams!

Throughout the COVID-19 quarantine, Girls of Steel has been working virtually to follow our mantra of “always improve” by reflecting on all aspects of the team and determining how we can better ourselves in the 2020-2021 season of FIRST: Game Changers.  One of the biggest improvements being made to the team this year is the business and technical restructuring initiative, designed to better serve our members who have both business and technical roles. The business side of improvements started at the end of the 2019-2020 build season, and the technical side only a few weeks later. The team wasted no time jumping on the opportunity to improve!  Check out this page on our website for descriptions of all the leadership positions.

The process started when the business leads got together to discuss feedback survey forms, and came to the conclusion that the only way change could be effectively made would be by changing the entire format of the business side of the team, so we did! First, a draft of ideas was made with action items that needed to be accomplished, and virtual business meetings were held to brainstorm and edit. The team worked together through Zoom to put together a new system of subteams. Instead of having the usual four subteams, the team now has 5 subteam groups: Finance, Outreach – with the new FLL subteam housed within it, Media – comprised of three subteam groups, Awards, and the three expansion subteams. The expansion subteams are smaller groups of girls that will work together on a larger scale task: expanding the reach and impact of Girls of Steel. These consist of Advocacy, FIRST Ladies, and Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI). With the preseason just starting we are all very excited to see this plan in action!

The technical changes started with the official creation of a technical leadership council, to give the technical side a space to brainstorm before bringing their ideas for decisions to the leadership council. Changes include: the electrical subteam was made smaller, and newer electrical girls would be given the opportunity to work on the e-board design and also be cross-trained with mechanical. The mechanical lead position was removed and the subsystem mechanical leads now share the responsibilities of leading the entire mechanical subteam. The technical lead position was replaced with a role called the technical operations director, who would keep the tech leads organized without making big robot decisions on her own. Lastly, there is now a more structured way of teaching during preseason that ensures that girls will learn everything they need to know about robot design and building in a more efficient manner.

Girls of steel cannot wait to not only see both the technical and business sides function, but we also are excited to see them work together.  We plan to watch the team improve even more throughout this unusual year within the new structure.