DRS, Data and Research Services internal online company news
Online internal newsletter 2004-05
Challenges
Internal news was not shared effectively so staff did not know what was current in the company.
A newsletter produced to print quality was being delivered over the Intranet in a PDF which could not be easily read from screen.
Articles were required to be submitted by senior staff and were very heavily edited to fit a very small section of the PDF newsletter, without a review process.
Non-managerial staff could not submit articles.
Trust in news quality was low.
Process of producing news was not trusted.
Methods
Collaboration with Head of Marketing, Editor, Head of Information Services and Software Developer.
User interviews (online and face to face) to gather requirements from across the company
User testing to refine interface designs
Phased replacement of PDF newsletter with an online publishing and delivery medium which formed the central part of the new company Intranet.
Outcomes
Created editorial process and group and took part in editorial cycle, writing and editing articles.
Wrote articles and guidelines on writing for the web.
We produced a newsletter which all staff could contribute to and they did so willingly and eagerly.
Changed the company culture, promoted knowledge sharing and communication.
