The document outlines a workshop led by James Robertson from Step Two Designs focusing on effective intranet communication and strategy. It discusses the ongoing evolution of intranets, key purposes, best practices, and resources for facilitating a better intranet experience. Additionally, various reports and tools are mentioned, providing insights into intranet innovation, structure, search optimization, and staff directories.

1. Making intranets work (for communicators) James Robertson, Step Two Designs (jamesr@steptwo.com.au)

2. Structure of the workshop The workshop will be highly interactive Please share your experiences and ideas Ask questions at any point! The goal of the workshop is to ‘problem solve’ It is up to you to chase up interesting topics with the other workshop participants There has been a lot packed into the session, so we’ll all be tired by the end!

3. About Step Two Designs We provide vendor-neutral consulting, coaching and mentoring, in the areas of: Identify intranet needs Developing an intranet strategy Improving the structure and design of intranets Selecting a content management system Applying knowledge management in practice Our focus is on providing organisations with the knowledge and skills they need

4. Intranet Innovations 2007 115-page report shares the results of the inaugural Intranet Innovation Awards Winners across four categories, with commended entries Provides screenshots and examples

5. 6x2 methodology for intranets 95 page report providing an entirely new methodology for managing intranets Focuses on delivering intranet improvements that will also help the intranet team gain greater resources

6. Improving Intranet Search 115 page report providing a practical and comprehensive approach for improving the effectiveness of search Screenshots and tips throughout

7. Staff Directories report 91 page report containing best-practice approaches for designing an online staff (phone) directory Contains many screenshots, as well as the results of a global survey

8. Intranet Review Toolkit Comprehensive set of heuristics for conducting an intranet expert review Free (Creative Commons) www.IntranetReviewToolkit.org

9. Professional community for intranet teams: discover best practice, keep current with trends and share experiences Yearly subscription includes four workshops, members-only website, how-to guides, access to international experts and much more Full-time dedicated forum manager, Catherine Grenfell Full details & current members at: www.intranetleadership.com.au

10. Topics covered The ideal intranet? Intranet evolution Four key purposes of an intranet Intranets for communicators Delivering a better intranet?

11. The ideal intranet

12. Ideal intranet? Activity At your tables, select the ten cards out of the Microsoft Product Reaction Cards that best describe the “perfect” intranet.

13. The evolution of intranets

14. The evolution of intranets There has been an (ongoing) evolution of intranets: Phase 1: intranet is born! Phase 2: rapid organic growth Phase 3: repeated redesigns Phase 4: usability & IA Phase 5: useful, not just usable Phase 6: intranet as a business tool

15. Phase 1: the intranet is born!

16. Phase 2: rapid organic growth

17. Common problems emerge…

18. Phase 3: repeated redesigns

19. Phase 4: usability & IA

20. Phase 5: useful, not just usable

21. Phase 6: intranet as a business tool

22. The evolution of intranets Phase 1: intranet is born! Phase 2: rapid organic growth Phase 3: repeated redesigns Phase 4: usability & IA Phase 5: useful, not just usable Phase 6: intranet as a business tool

23. Four key purposes of an intranet

24. Content…

25. … communication …

26. … collaboration …

27. … activity

28. Intranets for communicators

29. Intranets are an important internal communications channel

30. “ Management Communication” • Communication World • March-April 2005 • pp 18-22

32. Staff, however, are not coming to the intranet just for news …

33. … they are looking for a specific piece of information …

34. … or they want to complete a specific task

35. An intranet will only be used if it is useful

36. Start by making the intranet more useful, comms benefits will follow

37. Delivering a better intranet?

38. Delivering a better intranet? Discussion What concrete steps can we take to deliver a better intranet (for communicators)?

39. Further resources

40. Articles Intranet Innovation Awards winners for 2007 www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_iia2007 Intranets as a news channel www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetnews Creating an "intranet concept" www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetconcept Conducting intranet needs analysis www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_needsanalysis … plus many, many more

41. Questions? James Robertson [email_address] Please fill in the feedback form before leaving Website: www.steptwo.com.au RSS feed: www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/index.xml Download many more articles off the site, and read my blog to keep up-to-date on news, ideas and useful resources