Keane Inc. Utilizes Stories, iPods and podcasting to support sales training and organizational change

July 26th, 2006 by Tim Keelan

Chicago, IL – February 2, 2006 – Keane, Inc. (NYSE: KEA), a leading business process and information technology (IT) services firm, announced that it is utilizing StoryQuest Inc., a revolutionary provider of mobile audio training, to deliver sales, marketing and change management programs. To support this program, Keane has setup a podcast, and has purchased over 100 Apple iPod Nanos and distributed them to their global sales and management staff to access the content produced by StoryQuest.

Specifically, StoryQuest is harvesting Keane’s intellectual capital in the form of peer-based spoken stories, around customer sales, internal processes and successful sales strategies. StoryQuest has produced over 28 customer and sales stories along with themed pieces on Keane’s company story, competitive differentiation and transformational change. All of the content for this program comes from Keane’s own executives and sales professionals who recorded one-on-one interviews. The StoryQuest project is helping Keane share knowledge and experience internally using a variety of audio media, including iPods and podcasting. By working together, these two innovators will address organizational needs while utilizing state-of-the-art technology to increase productivity and efficiencies.

“Keane has a powerful story to tell, but sharing that real-time with resources throughout the globe is challenging,” says Gregg Blatt, vice president of North American Sales for Keane. “The project has paid-off with additional benefits when, 30 days into the project, Keane initiated a significant internal organizational transformation. With many people moving into new roles, this allows them to learn and articulate real stories of our work, rather than just our capabilities. It is a huge benefit to be able to broadcast this content directly to peoples’ desktops, MP3 players, or iPods,” says Blatt.

The audio nature of the training means Keane’s sales force can listen to trusted peers sharing concise, relevant stories while commuting, driving between appointments or traveling. Another revelation Keane discovered was the value of voices. The use of different voices made the content more memorable and educational. “It was invaluable to me to actually hear other sales professionals at Keane share how they won deals and articulated value propositions. It helped me prepare and get an understanding of what we have done so I can help provide more value to our clients,” says Caperton Birne, a new account manager with Keane.

About Keane
In business since 1965, Keane, Inc. (NYSE: KEA) is a leading business process and IT services firm. Keane delivers Application and Business Process Services to help clients transform their business and IT operations to achieve demonstrable, measurable, and sustainable business benefit. As a trusted advisor and partner for its clients, Keane solves real business issues through the development and implementation of cost-effective, change-oriented, industry-specific solutions.

Specifically, Keane delivers highly synergistic application and business process services, including Application Development and Integration Services, Architecture Services, Application Outsourcing, Program Management, and Testing, as well as Business Transformation Services including Business Process Outsourcing. Keane believes that business and IT improvements are best realized by streamlining and optimizing business and IT processes, implementing rigorous management disciplines, and fostering a culture of accountability through meaningful performance metrics. Based in Boston, Mass., Keane delivers its services throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.keane.com.

About StoryQuest
StoryQuest is a Chicago-based company that produces custom mobile audio solutions. StoryQuest combines its own knowledge-harvesting methodology along with mobile audio production and distribution tools to help users learn faster, remember more and save time. President Tim Keelan has traveled the world studying the application of story and narrative for training and organizational learning. For more information about StoryQuest, visit www.storyquest.us or call (312) 258-0111