As we prepare for the future it is time to start thinking of how the intranet will evolve as corporations get back to growing and improving the business. This recession has been difficult for many in the Communications world. You have been called upon to keep employees informed, hopeful and encouraged to give more with less. Many of you are now well instantiated into the leader’s inner circle.
You have earned your place at the table by providing guidance and demonstrating that reliable access to accurate information has given your employees confidence in their leadership and leaders’ confidence in themselves. Together you have clarified the message and delivered it online via voice, video and text. Employees’ reliance upon the intranet as a dependable information source has grown. Employees are becoming increasingly vocal about their preference for online information. The intranet has come of age.
Our profession has changed and we are called upon to lead our corporations into the world of social media and inclusive collaboration. Our intranets must change as well. It is time to review your corporate business objectives and confirm your intranet strategy. It is time to question where your business is going and how the intranet will contribute to the future success of your company.
Technology and the application of technology have continued to evolve at a breathtaking pace. Twitter, Yammer and Facebook are entering our corporate realm as fast as Sharepoint did in recent years. Users, publishers and others are concerned and confused that they are not connected and simultaneously are over-connected.
Content is proliferating and it is located in multiple environments. Users don’t know where to go, where they are or where to look for their content whether documents or reference information. It is time to ensure that you have an integrated strategy to eliminate the noise in the system by providing a standardized interface that provides the illusion of a seamless intranet regardless if a user is in Sharepoint, your WIKI, your Sharepoint or a portal.
Communicators must review their governance policies and forge a coalition with other business and IT leaders to ensure that priority is placed on simplification and on the tools that will enhance productivity the most. Communications is a natural leader in this space since they are so dependent on the intranet
Productivity can be greatly enhanced by streamlining communication processes and channels. Web standards and guidelines should be applied across all environments to ensure a seamless user experience. Navigation standards should be consistent to simplify transitioning from wiki’s to search to team rooms to websites and portal content. The definition of the intranet should be expanded to include all environments where content is hosted and collaboration occurs. The goal is simplicity – a simple, intuitive online world.
There is much to do. Time is of the essence. Just when you thought you might get a break it is time to shift gears and move to the future. Take heart though, energy grows as you move forward. It’s definitely less draining than the last twelve months. Happy Holidays! Laurel
