Design and build a new Company Intranet 2004-07

DRS Data & Research Services Intranet

Challenges

  • Company Intranet content was out of date and therefore not used.
  • Information was organised in a way which reflected historic responsibilities. If you didn’t know the history of company and its changes it was difficult to find information.
  • It was not easy to update content.
  • The design and layout were different for each department’s section giving a disjointed user experience.
  • The company’s Staff Handbook was print-only and updates had to be printed and circulated to all staff.
  • Company news was not fully integrated with the intranet and internal communication was negatively affected.

Methods

  • Requirements analysis with department managers and company directors.
  • Structured staff interviews, questionnaire design.
  • Information Architecture (card sorting, paper-based hierarchy testing)
  • User Journey flows
  • Graphic Design and front end web page build (HTML and CSS)
  • Content production
  • Collaboration with HR to re-format the Staff Handbook to web format
  • Set up Intranet testing group including a staff representative from each department who took part in design exercises throughout project.

Outcomes

  • Project completed to agreed deadlines with Project Manager and Technical Director
  • Centralised knowledge management and information sharing by providing a new information architecture and design, online news, an online staff handbook and an up to date area for each department.