This briefing explores the idea of intranet successes, how to identify them, and how to gain the greatest value from them.

The earlier article Three fundamental purposes of an intranet identified that there are three main aspects that must be addressed for an intranet to be successful: content communication activity Content refers to the traditional role of the intranet as a repository of corporate information, while the intranet can also be an effective communications channel, and a mechanism to provide task-oriented tools and systems. The challenge for organisations is ensuring that all three purposes are addressed, for any one in isolation is not enough to build a sustainable and effective intranet. This briefing builds on the earlier article, to explore what

Intranets often focus on one or two key aspects, depending on who is running the site. The intranet maybe established as a communications channel, or as a repository for corporate content. When tackled in this narrow way, intranets often struggle to be sustainable and successful in the longer term. To be truly effective, intranets need to address three fundamental purposes: content communication activity This briefing will explore each of these purposes, and will outline how all three elements are required if the intranet is to be effective. Content The intranet's role as a repository for corporate information is well understood.

The concept of innovation, and the advantages it can deliver, have come to the forefront in many organisations. With organisations as recognising that market opportunities can be generated through business innovation, it is natural to ask whether the intranets that serve these organisations can themselves be innovative. In many ways, it is vital for intranets to innovate if they are to prosper in the long term. As things currently stand, intranets are often seen as 'dull but useful', which can make it difficult for intranet teams to gain the resources they require. Building more innovative intranets gives the opportunity to

Explores a number of approaches that can be taken to build innovative intranets, all of which move intranet teams beyond just maintaining their current sites.

To be truly effective, intranets need to address three fundamental purposes: content, communication and activity.

The intranet team must guide, coordinate and integrate activities across all three fundamental intranet purposes: content, communication and activity.

Intranets are often invisible tools within organisations. While staff rely on the intranet to help them complete common tasks, the site itself is taken for granted. The intranet team is similarly low in visibility, with little senior management recognition of the team or its role. The net effect is that intranet teams work hard from month to month, but struggle to gain the support and resources required to deliver a truly great site. While this is perhaps a natural by-product of the role of intranets within organisations, intranet teams can do much to increase their level of recognition (and therefore

Intranet teams should be guided by two words when planning intranet activities: tangible and visible.

When it comes to implementing online forms on an intranet, there is a