In business

Business

A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...

, an intranet strategy is the use of an intranet

Intranet

An intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network...

 and associated hardware

Hardware

Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....

 and software to obtain one or more organizational objectives. An intranet is an access-restricted network

Computer network

A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....

 used internally in an organization. An intranet uses the same concepts and technologies as the World Wide Web

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...

 and Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

. This includes web browser

Web browser

A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...

s and servers

Web server

Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....

 running on the internet protocol suite

Internet protocol suite

The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...

 and using Internet protocols such as FTP, TCP/IP, HTML

HTML

HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....

, and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is an Internet standard for electronic mail transmission across Internet Protocol networks. SMTP was first defined by RFC 821 , and last updated by RFC 5321 which includes the extended SMTP additions, and is the protocol in widespread use today...

 (SMTP).

Role of intranets

Intranets are generally used for four types of applications:

1) Communication and collaboration

• send and receive e-mail, faxes, voice mail, and paging
• discussion rooms and chat rooms
• audio and video conferencing
• virtual team meetings and project collaboration
• online company discussions as events (e.g., IBM Jams)
• inhouse blogs

2) Web publishing

• develop and publish hyperlinked multi-media documents such as:
  • policy manuals
  • company newsletters
  • product catalogs
  • technical drawings
  • training material
  • telephone directories

3) Business operations and management

• order processing
• inventory control
• production setup and control
• management information systems
• database
  Database
  A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
  
   access

4) Intranet portal management

• centrally administer all network functions including servers, clients, security, directories, and traffic
• give users access to a variety of internal and external business tools/applications
• integrate different technologies
• conduct regular user research to identify and confirm strategy (random sample surveys, usability testing, focus groups, in-depth interviews with wireframes, etc.)

Why have an intranet strategy?

Having a strategy pre-supposes a planned, orderly process with proper costing and budgeting, it involves consulting with the parties who are going to be using the intranet, allows for an efficient integration with existing systems and phasing-out of older ones, has long term benefits when the intranet needs to be scaled or made more secure, maintains control and quality in the hands of the designated department that "owns" it, and creates for the provision of feedback to monitor whether the "investment" is living up to the organization's expectations.

Potential advantages of using intranets

• reduces printing, distribution, and paper costs - particularly on policy manuals, company newsletters, product catalogs, technical drawings, training material, and telephone directories
• easy to use - no specialized training required
• inexpensive to use (once it is set up)
• moderate initial setup costs (hardware and software)
• standardized network protocol (TCP/IP), document protocol (HTML), and file transfer protocol (ftp) already well established and suitable for all platforms
• can be used throughout the enterprise
• reduces employee training costs
• reduces sales and marketing costs
• reduces office administration and accounting costs
• ease of access results in a more integrated company with employees communicating and collaborating more freely and more productively

Potential disadvantages of intranets

• it is an evolving technology that requires upgrades and could have software incompatibility problems
• security features can be inadequate
• inadequate system performance management and poor user support
• may not scale up adequately
• maintaining content can be time consuming
• some employees may not have PCs at their desks
• The aims of the organisation in developing an intranet may not align with user needs (see: further reading)

See also

• Information technology management
  Information technology management
  IT management is the discipline whereby all of the technology resources of a firm are managed in accordance with its needs and priorities. These resources may include tangible investments like computer hardware, software, data, networks and data centre facilities, as well as the staffs who are...
  
  
• extranet
  Extranet
  An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside, for specific business or educational purposes. An extranet can be viewed as an extension of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company, usually partners, vendors, and suppliers...
  
  
• internet
  Internet
  The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
  
  
• web portal
  Web portal
  A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
  
  
• marketing
  Marketing
  Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
  
  
• strategic management
  Strategic management
  Strategic management is a field that deals with the major intended and emergent initiatives taken by general managers on behalf of owners, involving utilization of resources, to enhance the performance of firms in their external environments...
  
  
• strategic planning
  Strategic planning
  Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine the direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues...
  
  
• management
  Management
  Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
  
  
• management information systems