MIS382-Chapter 12 What Lessons Have We Learned and Where Do We Go from Here?

What Lessons Have We Learned?

1. Start it as a grassroots effort.
2. Have a champion and/or stearing committee to push it forward.
3. Have business goals drive it.
4. Choose your technology early and carefully.
5. Get the network in place as soon as you can.
6. Plan capacity ahead of demand.
7. Determine who owns the itranet and how much the IT folks should be involved.
8. Involve all stakeholders and get them to work together.
9. Have someone in charge.
10. Decide if you want standards and, if so, then create them.
11. Start small and start quickly--you can always change it later.
12. Create the support structure early.
13. Focus on compelling content.
14. Modify the processes from paper-oriented to on-line.
15. Develop the skills you need.
16. Promote and advertise it.
17. It isn't easy to keep content up-to-date.
18. Beware of legacy applications.
19. Be prepared for concerns and fears.
20. Make sure the business knows what's possible for the intranet.

What's Next and Where Do We Go from Here?

• More and more applications on the internal web.
• The web will be the ubiquitous, universal user interface.
• Data analysis applications will be front-ended by the web.
• Legacy systems will have web front ends.
• The intranet will be the primary vehicle for delivery of employee and company news.
• The intranet will become the platform of choice for applications development.
• More sophisticated search tools will become available.
• The intranet will become the main source of information in companies worldwide.
• More departmental information wil be put on the intranet.
• All applications will be web-enabled or will be entered via the web.
• It will be the platform of choice for a cross-platform transaction-processing environment.
• The intranet will be the distribution and communications vehicle within the company.
• It will provide the ability for employees to customize the information they receive through the PointCast I-Server.
• More processes will be added to turn information into knowledge to increase the value the intranet delivers to each employee.
• Enable a significant degree of electronic bonding with our customers by allowing them to connect to our intranet.
• The web browser will become the user's heads-up display for timely access to business information.

High-Bandwidth Applications Such as Video and Virtual Reality

Workflow [currently mostly proprietary]

Groupware

• Coordinate scheduling
• Manage projects
• Maintain project documentation on requirements, design, status, and metrics
• Establish internal newsgroups for discussion
• Review documentation and incorporate comments
• Find and communicate with experts
• Select staff for planning new projects
• Conference and collaborate
• Communicate with all locations
• Hold real-time discussions via IRC

Checklist: What Lessons Have We Learned and Where Do We Go from Here?