The Intranet Management Handbook

Citation

Cox, A.M. (2012), "The Intranet Management Handbook", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 144-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/00330331211204601

Information from an intranet is probably used in the majority of business decisions. Yet because intranets are behind a firewall, we tend not know much about them. Intranets have to be designed on fundamentally different principles from a front‐facing website. Yet there are few books specifically on intranets; most are old and IT orientated. White's book contributes admirably to filling the gap.

The book is based on knowledge derived from White's extensive consultancy work, discussions with practising intranet managers and the strategic use of findings of industry surveys. His approach is driven by an interest in how people find and use information, tied to a strong sense of the potential business benefits of information management, rather than a fascination with IT or top‐down communications. The treatment is comprehensive in tackling everything from strategy and the business case for an intranet to operational planning; and from gathering user requirements to marketing and evaluation. His style is accessible and his approach immensely practical. As well as exploring broad concepts, there are detailed resources, such as tips for conducting user requirement interviews, detailed job descriptions, example risk logs and sample social media guidelines. There are some areas where a handbook might be expected to provide more detail, for example around legal aspects. But making the book generically useful across sectors, international boundaries and time justifies the overview approach taken. Corporate confidentiality explains the lack of screen shots of actual intranets; but some would have been nice.

Few people choose intranet management as a career and so they are unlikely to have had systematic training in the role. There are few courses specifically dedicated to running an intranet and the professional support networks are informal and short‐lived. A book like this, therefore, is immensely valuable. Anyone charged with running an intranet is likely to find it of interest. If they come from an information profession background they will find inspiration to promote information governance within their organisation. If they are based in IT or communications they will find the information‐orientated viewpoint a stimulating alternative perspective on their work. Students in information studies, as well as business, IT or communications will find the book easy to read, up‐to‐date and realistic.