5 ‘must haves’ for intranet usability

This is a guest blog post by Lisa Pratt, Account Executive at ClerksWell. ClerksWell is an expert in developing intranets focused on user experience and has recently launched EasyShare, a fixed-cost, fully enhanced intranet solution based on SharePoint 2010 and 2013. From small organizations to global corporate companies, the website has become a powerful communications…

Blog DWG24 Usability & design
The curse of intranet quick links (and how to do them right)

Many intranets feature a list of “quick links”, intended (one assumes) to give users access to important or popular content or services at the touch of a button. Intranet quick links take up valuable space on the intranet homepage and seem almost universal. But they so often go wrong. Indeed, some commentators would have them…

Blog Intranets Usability & design
How Ernst & Young staffs its enterprise search program

This is a guest blog post from Ed Dale, Search Services Manager at Digital Workplace Group (DWG) member Ernst & Young. This post is based on a discussion thread from the confidential online DWG Member Network, where intranet professionals from large global companies discuss their intranet challenges in a private online setting. A recent DWG…

Blog Search & findability Usability & design
Top 10 intranets are ‘genuinely enjoyable’ for employees

Originally posted by Matt Wilson on Ragan.com. The director of the Nielsen Norman Group said the top 10 intranets of the year did more than just streamline and pretty up. They pulled people together. To have a top 10 intranet, you’ve got to think about more than just a website, Amy Schade, director at Nielsen…

Blog Collaboration Usability & design
Get insights into developing user-centred information architecture: participate in our survey

As part of its 2013 research programme, IBF is conducting a survey into the latest best practices in developing user-centred information architecture. Everybody who participates in the survey will get a summary of the results, and relative analysis. We believe this is an important topic for intranet professionals, and a must for improving findability in…

Blog Research reports Usability & design
Powerful intranets struggle to maintain usability

At this time of the year the world’s intranet community waits eagerly for the world’s top 10 intranets to be announced by the Nielsen Norman Group, founded by web usability guru Jakob Nielsen. Who will win and what will the key themes be? The winners are always an impressive group (this year’s will be featured…

Blog Usability & design
Making your corporate intranet feel less corporate

In our recent blog post series on social intranets, and also in the entries which are coming into our “My Beautiful Intranet Goes Social” contest, we’ve seen how interaction in the workplace is being facilitated through microblogging, activity streams and social networks. We’ve also seen how user-generated content (UGC) is being surfaced and featured more…

Blog Internal communications Usability & design
Intranet usability and the death of the corporate app store

This might sound like a crazy thing to say in the heyday of the app marketplace, but we need to eliminate applications from the computer user’s experience. “Application” is a technical term that means “a piece of software” and traditionally belonged in the realm of IT departments. Its prevalence in mainstream culture indicates the triumph…

Blog Mobile sites & apps Usability & design
Fortune 500 intranet managers bare their souls at DWG’s member meeting

Imagine you’re in a room full of intranet managers from some of the largest companies in the world and you’re going around the circle honestly discussing your toughest intranet challenges and recent successes. That’s how every DWG member meeting starts (what is an DWG member meeting?). What we call the “Stop Press” session allows all…

Blog Collaboration Intranets Mobile sites & apps Strategy & governance Usability & design
Instant intranet improvement – by cleaning up!

Every intranet manager I have met has been struggling with unused, unmanaged or outdated content on their intranet. Only a few of them have automated systems to identify and manage expired content, and if these systems are available, they are not always in place for every type of content. But if this is an issue,…

Blog Content management Strategy & governance Usability & design
The “hidden gem” that is DWG Research

Over in the UK the nation is getting into party mood as we start the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It’s also a year of celebration at DWG (formerly IBF) as it’s our 10th year anniversary and we’re excited about the New York and London member meetings coming up on 13-14 June. Something I’m very passionate…

Blog Collaboration Content management Digital workplace HR intranets Internal communications Intranets Metrics & measurement Mobile sites & apps Research reports ROI & Business Case Search & findability Strategy & governance Usability & design
The largest physical intranet gathering in the world!

The largest (physical) intranet gathering in the world! The yearly Congres Intranet, organized by Entopic in The Netherlands, is said to be the largest physical gathering of its kind in the world. The 2012 (4th) edition was almost sold out. It comes therefore as no surprise that this is the Dutch Intranet Event of the…

Blog Digital workplace Usability & design