Intranet technology: a new dimension in internal business communications

This paper discusses the distinctive features of intranets (the internal or corporate Internet), typical applications and the productivity gains from implementing an organisational intranet. It is estimated that by the year 2000 intranet sites will outnumber Internet sites by 10 to one (Ref 1). Countless organisations are already building intranets, bringing Web technologies to bear on internal organisational problems traditionally addressed by expensive proprietary database and groupware systems. This paper compares the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of intranet technology to high-priced in-house groupware technology solutions. The authors discuss how intranet technology can optimise internal employee and business communications and review how Irish organisations are exploiting this revolutionary concept. Enterprising organisations, whether large or small, need to be proactive in their response to intranet technology and the 'like' in this new, high speed, 'no boundaries' information age.