This is the story of a very profitable, successful, large enterprise that spent over $2 million on their intranet. When the intranet launched, it crashed in seconds. It has never gone live again (more than a year later).
Leaving an intranet design to the whim of a designer, a creative agency or any individual not working from a sound blueprint represents poor judgment, management, and is a recipe for disaster.
Sound intranet design follows a process that incorporates:
1- Business requirements (as expressed by management)
2- User requirements (as expressed by employees)
3- Strategic & functional planning
4- Governance
5- Best practices & usability
The process for arriving at the stage where a designer applies color and images to a design concept is one that should be taken seriously, and if done properly, may take a number of weeks. This process is the underlying foundation of a successful intranet design, one that is examined and outlined in the webinar Intranet Design – A Business Approach to a Winning Design.
Note: not all 25 intranets profiled during this webinar, but not are available for distribution.
The story of the failed intranet, and the squandering of more than $2 million and years of worker hours, is ultimately a story about a failure in planning. Without sound requirements that drive a thorough intranet blueprint, culminating in the intranet design, your intranet risks failure.
Read More on Intranet Design:
Leading an intranet redesign
Intranet redesign: rolling content inventory
Intranet redesign: building a business case
Building an intranet blueprint
Couldn't agree more – but unfortunately the reality in many enterprises is deliver now, fix it later. (which undoubtedly leads to situations like the one you describe.) Plus, from a Web functionality perspective, by the time you get through the exercise you describe in any moderately complex organization, you'll be launching an intranet that will be instantly 1-2 years behind the times the moment employees see it. And that leads business leaders to search for other solutions because they think the intranet is “stale” or “dated” and they want the best and brightest things they've seen on the public internet.
It's a vexing problem. I'm still wrestling with the solution, absent going to a full embrace of user-generated content, which isn't likely at many organizations.
If its taking 1 -2 years to launch a new intranet design then you're working with the wrong team (whomever is holding you up deserves a swift kick in the you-know-what)
Really great approach, Toby. Your intranet blueprint design and methodical approach will lead to success for companies smart enough to consult with your firm. A well-designed intranet with a communication strategy that leverages two-way communication (and senior leader buy-in and transparency) will result in employee engagement and business results. Well expressed. Keep up the good work.
Completely agree! I'd add a suggestion. Let's get away from the use of “design” when, as you pointed out, it's really about planning. “Design” moves people's mindset to the wrong place. It's a planning process that is no less diligent than any other significant business planning process.