Intranet Implementation Research Articles

Show off the corporate library

Some published evidence has suggested that corporate libraries are slowly becoming irrelevant in meeting organisational information needs due to old-fashioned models of service delivery. Elsewhere in the literature the intranet is heralded as a technological tool for corporate information management. This paper provides the results of a series of case studies completed in 1998. The purpose of the research was to investigate: (a) whether corporate libraries could be considered as heading towards demise; (b) the extent to which corporate librarians might use intranets to provide information services to their clients; (c) the level of library involvement in the planning, implementation and running of corporate intranets; (d) the perceived impact of intranet development on libraries’ profiles within their parent organisations. The data were collected from library staff in eight corporate headquarters of organisations based in California, USA by observation, interview and e-mail. The results suggest that the case study libraries are heavily integrated with the corporate intranet and that the library staff are actively involved in taking the best advantage of this technology to deliver information services to meet increasing customer demands.

Implementation strategies for educational intranet resources

Recent events in UK Higher Education have caused university schools to look toward alternative means of enhancing and monitoring the quality of the service they provide. One approach utilises networked learning and teaching resources, in particular intranets. Two Schools at the University of Brighton commenced independent implementation of intranets at similar times. The subjects of the case studies are the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Intranet (SPI) and the Business School Intranet (BSI). This paper describes the two alternative strategies for intranet implementation, demonstrates the differing degrees of staff and student utilisation of these learning and teaching assets, identifies barriers to success within each and proposes solutions to address them. The paper proposes a unified strategy for effective intranet implementation and suggests measures to manage organisational resistance to change.

The Impact of Intranet Technology on Power in Franchisee/Franchisor Relationships

In this exploratory study we investigate the impact of an organization-wide intranet on the power relationships between franchisee and franchisor. This article reports on a study of an intranet implementation at PJ’s, a franchise organization consisting of 25 coffee and tea cafes. Through use of interviews as well as a detailed case study of one franchisee, we examine how the relationship between franchisor and franchisee changes with the implementation of an intranet. Among the findings was that the intranet appeared to increase power of both franchisee and franchisor, though the franchisor continued to have relatively more power than the franchisee. The franchisor did not include franchisee to franchisee communications as an intranet feature and, interestingly, the franchisees did not seek to develop such a virtual community outside of the system. We speculate that the current satisfaction with the franchisor among franchisees might explain disinterest in such a community. We also found evidence that some franchisees who entered the franchise organization early in its evolution might react much differently to the implementation of the intranet than those who invested in the more established organization several years later.

Steps involved prior to the implementation of an intranet search engine in a Web-based intranet environment

This article aims at providing the relevant background information necessary for the implementation of an intranet search engine, and its first focus is therefore the context of the intranet. It is not a do-it-yourself intranet search engine implementation, but brings the theoretical framework necessary before undertaking the practical implementation of an intranet. The report touches upon the comparative aspects of different search engines in a very limited way. This is so because search engines like everything else around Internet technology dates very quickly. For example, if Alta Vista the server of choice today, this may change completely tomorrow. At the beginning of this year, for example, some of the expensive Netscape solutions became free resources overnight.

Power, influence and intranet implementation

Intranets hold great promise as “organizational Internets” to allow information sharing and collaboration across departments, functions and different information systems within an organization. Yet not much is known about how to implement intranets. We adapt a taxonomy based on institutional theory and distinguish six broad diffusion drivers that might be considered to sustain the implementation process. An exploratory field study of four intranet implementations was conducted to analyze which drivers were used and the results that were yielded. We draw several conclusions. First, all six drivers were deployed in the analyzed cases. Second, the choice of drivers varied with the level of the intranet (corporate or unit), the implementation stage, and existing organizational practices and contingencies. Third, it seems that the critical drivers are knowledge building, subsidy and mobilization in the early stages of implementation. In the later stages knowledge deployment, subsidy and innovation directives were most commonly used.

Managing the risks of intranet implementation: an empirical study of user satisfaction

Much interest has been generated recently by the concept of intranets: the use of internet technology to build the communication and data storage infrastructure of the firm. While the advantages of such a concept have been widely publicized, the risks of moving to an intranet based infrastructure are less clear. 'Fear of the unknown' may deter some firms from taking advantage of intranets. This empirical study is based in Singapore, a country chosen for its high internet penetration and usage levels. It investigates the factors underlying successful intranet developments. Intranet success as measured by user satisfaction is related to IS management risk factors. It is found that successful intranet implementation can be largely explained by standard determinants of IS success. Some implications for management of intranet developments are discussed.

Managing the Risks of Intranet Implementation: An Empirical Study of user Satisfaction

Much interest has been generated recently by the concept of intranets: the use of internet technology to build the communication and data storage infrastructure of the firm. While the advantages of such a concept have been widely publicized, the risks of moving to an intranet based infrastructure are less clear. ‘Fear of the unknown’ may deter some firms from taking advantage of intranets. This empirical study is based in Singapore, a country chosen for its high internet penetration and usage levels. It investigates the factors underlying successful intranet developments. Intranet success as measured by user satisfaction is related to IS management risk factors. It is found that successful intranet implementation can be largely explained by standard determinants of IS success. Some implications for management of intranet developments are discussed.

Knowledge management in a law firm

This article concentrates on the use of intranet technology to further the goals and ideals of knowledge management in a law firm. The need for research on the implementation of corporate intranets is emphasised and concepts commonly used when dealing with knowledge management and collaborative technology are defined. The benefits and disadvantages of proprietary collaborative technology are discussed as well as intranet technology and its potential to enable enterprise‐wide transformation.

Digital toolbox [intranets

The author relates his experiences in hiring an additional Webmaster for his organization. The company Web-based content and server systems had become tool large and complex for the existing staff to handle. He considers the elements of successful intranet implementation which are similar to those required for Internet-based Web services.