| Intranet refers to an internal network of Web sites | | | | take your time to discuss everything beforehand in a |
| that are exclusively accessible to a company's | | | | chat room or on a message board. |
| employees and management. Intranets are used by | | | | 5) Paperwork |
| companies to make data management and access | | | | Form filling, filing, and requesting time off can be |
| easier, since employees can access information they | | | | tedious and eat into company time. Streamline the |
| need from their console, instead of having to get in | | | | process using intranet services. |
| touch with the concerned department. | | | | 6) File Sharing |
| Advantages of Intranet in Small Business: | | | | One of the most useful features of the intranet |
| 1) Communication | | | | system is the file sharing system. Instead of having |
| Even if you run a small business, there must be some | | | | to go repeatedly over to a colleague's cubicle to |
| way for the staff to access information, find out | | | | work on a Power Point presentation, an employee |
| about new company policies, and update their | | | | can simply share the relevant documents by |
| knowledge and skills. If your staff consists of | | | | interaction through a chat room. |
| part-time or telecommuting employees, having an | | | | Installing an Intranet System: |
| intranet makes things easier for both you and your | | | | Before you install an intranet system for your office, |
| employees. | | | | have a good layout in place. You can hire a Web site |
| 2) Building an Understanding | | | | developer and business solutions consultant to |
| The employees must understand the objectives of | | | | develop the system for you. |
| your company. An intranet system helps you get | | | | If you want to set up the system on your own, you |
| your goals across to your company. | | | | can use online services provided by Microsoft. This is |
| 3) Building Employee Relationships | | | | not only cost effective, but the maintenance is also |
| An intranet system is the virtual counterpart of the | | | | easy, since you do not need special staff to look |
| office water cooler, a place for employees to | | | | after the system. |
| exchange the latest information and update each | | | | The distributed control, collaboration, personalization, |
| other on the latest policies. Having an intranet access | | | | and knowledge management services provided by a |
| helps employees build better interpersonal | | | | dedicated intranet system saves you not just money |
| relationships. | | | | but also labor and time that you would otherwise |
| 4) Virtual Conferencing | | | | spend on filing paperwork, holding endless |
| An intranet system cuts down on the time you | | | | conferences, and having your employees wander all |
| spend on business conferencing, leaving you free to | | | | over the office looking for information. |
| oversee the implementation process. Instead of | | | | If you need more information on the pros and cons |
| having to start from scratch at a business meeting, | | | | of intranet, or wish to install one, you can hire a small |
| as you introduce the participants, brainstorm, and | | | | business consultant to help you out. |
| have protracted discussions on policy issues, you can | | | | |