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 I came across an interesting article on Intranet Journal which I would like to share with our readers. These are simple steps, that can make for a vastly more successful intranet strategy. Because of the simplicity, small business owners will especially find these steps very useful. As the article rightfully points put, the overall measure of intranet success is to answer a simple question - Do most, if not all, of your employees, rely on the intranet every single working day? In other words, do they look upon it as the preferred destination for finding corporate information, and collaborate with colleagues.
1) Buy Don't Build - Ready made intranet software bring a lot more functionality and save you a great deal of hassle associated with custom built intranets. Although software like SharePoint may be more suitable for large enterprises, online intranet software like HyperOffice is more suitable for smaller companies because of the out of the box functionality, and simplicity of setup. 2) Don't Manage by Committee - Designate a core group which will oversee the intranet through its evolution. Invite input from all department, but leave the decision making to this core group. I would modify this a little from a small business perspective. Although the overall Intranet evolution should be overseen by a core intranet administration team (with the simplicity of online intranet software, it could be a single person), individual departments should have as much room as possible to manage their own intranet workspaces, according to their own requirements. Out of the box ntranet software allow departments to appoint a non expert to administer the department intranet workspace. 3) Include the Intranet in Everyones Start Up - Whenever employees log in to their computers every morning, the first thing they should seeis the intranet. Imminently practical tip! This makes for greater intranet adoption as employees start depending on the intranet to get the latest corporate news, notifications about events, tasks assigned to them etc. 4) Create Useful Categories - Make it easy for everyone to find the information they access most often - phone directory (with photos), company forms, help desk how-to's, press clippings, commonly used web links, training courses etc. 5) Let Everyone Publish Content - This is the heart of an intranet's success! In this era of user generated content and end user control, the intranet will create maximum benefit when everyone can easily publish information on the intranet and offer their knowledge, experience and insights. 6) Restrict Global Emailing - A very interesting tip. According to the article, there should be restrictions on sending out global emails. At maximum, employees should be able to send out global emails at the departmental level. This will ensure that employees start depending less and less on email for communications, and turn to the intranet, which is a vastly more efficient medium to collaborate.
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