Viva Engage, We Need to Talk About These Communities

Viva Engage, We Need to Talk About These Communities

"Stop multiplying groups like gremlins fed after midnight. Let’s work smarter, not harder, and maybe—just maybe—we can finally all find the one "

Ah, Viva Engage. You had one job: make collaboration easier. But instead, you’re out here, spawning new Microsoft 365 Groups like a caffeinated rabbit. I mean, sure, I love a new shiny thing as much as the next person, but did we really need yet another duplicate group ?

Why, Viva Engage, Why?

Seriously, why? You have all the tools to reuse existing groups. You have the power of Azure AD, Microsoft Graph, and the genius of the Microsoft ecosystem behind you. But instead, you’re like that one friend who insists on bringing their own salad to a perfectly catered dinner party.

It’s not like we don’t have enough groups already. Teams groups, SharePoint sites, email lists, and now a Viva Engage “community” that’s completely new, separate, and—let’s face it—confusing for everyone involved. Imagine explaining to Karen from HR why she now has two “Marketing Collaboration” spaces, one on Teams and one on Engage. Spoiler: she’s not going to use either.

The Redundant Reality

You know what this is? It’s a collaboration déjà vu. Here’s how it plays out every single time:

  1. Someone Creates a New Community: Because Viva Engage doesn’t offer an intuitive way to reuse existing groups.

  2. Duplicate Content Appears: Files, discussions, and announcements—now scattered across two identical spaces.

  3. Mass Confusion Ensues: Members are unsure where to post, admins cry quietly in the corner, and deadlines are missed because "it was in the other community."

It’s like trying to host one party in two separate houses. People keep asking, “Wait, which one are we meeting in again?”

The only thing you’re collaborating on is confusion.

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