Problem Statement

MIT desk workers are central to the smooth operation of each dorm. Most desk workers only work a couple hours a week and don’t know how to address every issue that arises on their shift. Thus they need an efficient way to clearly and concisely share information with each other. Each dorm has a different but cumbersome system for doing this.

, and they need to access this information efficiently. MIT desk workers are also responsible for ensuring that the desk is covered staffed throughout the day but this task is complicated by their various class schedule and shift preferences. The current process for shift scheduling is time consuming and error prone since it is done manually, so they need a better way to efficiently and correctly schedule shifts. Since people sometimes cannot make their shifts, they also need a way to dynamically handle shift changes.

Interview Narratives

Interview #1 - Jane

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• Student workers: at the beginning of each shift, need to check notes from other desk workers (ex. lost/found items brought to desk, outgoing packages)** leave new messages
• Desk captain and desk manager: 
  • need to handle issues that other desk workers didn’t know how to deal with
  • delete outdated messages

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• Student workers: 
  • need to be able to submit schedule preferences
  • need to be able to have shifts rescheduled
• Desk captain** create schedule that takes seniority into account

Ensuring Safety of the Dorm: Limit admittance to dorm; report incidents or issues to appropriate parties

• Student workers and desk captain:
  • make sure non-residents sign in and are received by a resident
  • report dorm issues (ex. broken facilities)
• Desk manager:** ensure follow-up on dorm issues