How to improve intranet content? (a mindmap)

There are many ways of improving the quality and value of intranet content. To progress discussions on this topic, we've produced a mindmap that brings together almost a hundred ideas. Download the PDF (72kb), and print it on a big piece of paper.

This can be used in a number of ways:

• Highlight on the mindmap all the activities and ideas you are already doing, and identify where the gaps lie.
• Conduct further research into potential ideas and approaches, using the mindmap as a starting point.
• Clarify team and individual responsibilities relating to intranet content.
• Help the team to break out of old habits, giving an opportunity to consider new ideas.
• Gather together the intranet team and decentralised authors, and use the mindmap to discuss the current situation, and possible improvements.
• Demonstrate to management the work that the intranet team does to help deliver good intranet content.
• Compare notes between intranet teams, using the mindmap to identify differences and similarities.
• Use as a framework to structure discussions and activities at intranet conferences and other gatherings.

This is version 1.0, released in the spirit of helping all intranet teams. It's also helped us to get all our ideas on a single piece of paper. Please do send us a message if you have any comments, suggestions or ideas. We'll then incorporate these, and released updated versions when appropriate.

Posted by jamesr at 01:24 PM | Permalink
Categories: Content management, Intranets

Open for entries: 2008 Global Intranet Survey

Jane McConnell has just opened up the 2008 Global Intranet Survey for submissions from organisations. This is the single most important survey conducted on intranet management and aspirations, and the results produced are of great value for all intranet teams.

It will only take 45-60 minutes to complete the survey, and I'd strongly encourage every intranet team to enter this year. Most importantly, teams who submit get a free copy of the final Global Intranet Trends report (see a sample).

(I'm a huge fan of Jane's work on intranets, particularly of her unique models on global intranets.)

Posted by jamesr at 01:02 PM | Permalink
Categories:

Enhancing dashboard value and user experience

Joe Lamantia has published the fifth article in his series on dashboards and portals. To quote:

Portals gather and present content from a wide variety of sources, making the assembled items and streams more valuable for users by reducing the costs of content discovery and acquisition. By placing diverse content into close proximity, specialized forms of portals, such as the dashboard, support knowledge workers in creative and interpretive activities including synthesis, strategy formulation, decision making, collaboration, knowledge production, and multi-dimensional analysis.

Posted by jamesr at 10:40 AM | Permalink
Categories: Content management, Information architecture, Information management

WIPA Usability and Eyetracking Seminars (Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane)

Spreading the word on behalf of the WIPA committee:

WIPA is presenting an afternoon seminar on the use of the latest eyetracking technologies and the challenges of ensuring usability when an Agile Development process is used for developing websites. The two speakers are Dr Peter Brawn and Dr John Eklund, who are both experienced and respected experts in their field. More information available on the WIPA site:

wipa.org.au/events/display.cfm?event_id=13

Afternoon tea will be provided.

Cost

$50 for WIPA Members
$90 for non members

Dates

Canberra: Friday 23 May, 2008, 2.00 pm - 4.50 pm.
Where: NLA Theatre, lower ground floor, National Library of Australia

Sydney: Wednesday 4 June, 2008. 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Where: Y Hotel Hyde Park, Whitlam Square where Wentworth Ave meets Liverpool St.

Brisbane: Thursday June 12, 2008. 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Where: Riverside Hotel South Bank (To be confirmed)

Registration
wipa.org.au/registration/

Posted by jamesr at 10:07 AM | Permalink
Categories: Conferences & presentations

Intranets are not information dumps

Gerry McGovern has highlighted that intranets should not be information dumps. To quote:

Maybe we distribute information so that people can become better informed. But what are these things we want people to become better informed about? And why aren't these things we want people to become better informed about connected with productivity or collaboration?

Posted by jamesr at 09:11 AM | Permalink
Categories: Intranets