> Archived Articles

 

In the collection Intranet Principles Defining a mission statement that mobilizes Making User Architecture Meaningful, Part 1 Making User Architecture Meaningful, Part 2 Complex Intranets & Governance: Who decides what? Sliver Platters: Danger warning or sign of health?

Complex Intranets and Governance

Who decides what?

(Aug 2004, original version Dec 2001)

I've worked on both sides of the fence. I've worked for corporate centers, conducting audits, studies, making recommendations for their Net strategy worldwide.

I have worked for local entities -— business or country units — helping them set their own strategy and organize their implementation.

In every case, with no exceptions, there has always been to some degree, friction if not conflict, between the center and the unit. The dilemmas vary:

• Country: "They are less advanced than we are, so why should HQ tell us what to do?"
• HQ: "They are re-inventing the wheel, wasting money and resources."
• Business unit: "We can't wait for global guidelines; we need to do it now. They don't understand the pressure we're under."

Give people the right to choose as often as possible. There will be "mature" units and "young" units with varying degrees of experience. There will be "big" and "small" units with different sized budgets. Some will want or need to out-source; others will do everying in-house.

Determine when it is really necessary to use the same tools.

• Don't assume that all units should use the same tools for building and maintaining their sites.
• Don't make the mandatory heavier than necessary. For example, don't assume that exactly the same graphic look and feel is essential for intranet sites.

Flexibility on this less strategic aspects will counter balance strong rules on more important issues such as content management tools and KM practices.

The bare minimum

The center should

• First define the essential standards without which the global company cannot collaborate, share or communicate,
• Then offer guidance on other points, proposing cost-effective solutions
• And above all, leave the units free to implement as they see best as along as they respect the basics.

The center and the local entities both have valuable input for strategic decisions. They should work together from the beginning when conducting the audits and defining key rules and roles. This is best done by a central coordinating group with a majority of members coming from the units.

(Aug 2004, original version Dec 2001)

Breakfasts

Paris-based working breakfasts for Net managers

Survey

Annual Global Intranet Strategies Survey - practices, trends, charts and analysis

Globally Local

Intranet strategies blog by JMC (English)

Carnet intranet

Stratégies intranet par JMC (Français)