Chapter 1

Harnessing the Power: Intranet Defined

• Where the Internet Ends and the Intranet Begins
• "But We Already Have E-Mail" (and Other Misconceptions)
• Wresting Order Out of Chaos: Maximizing Value and Optimizing Utility
• Some Intranet Benefits
  • Enhanced Efficiency
  • Enhanced Effectiveness
• Content Is the Key
• Is an Intranet the Answer? Some Intranet Criteria
• An Intranet Checklist
• Setting Intranet Goals
• Getting Started
• summary_ch1.htm

If you're reading this book, you probably know a fair amount about the Internet-what it is and how it works, its scope and its limitations. You may use it extensively in your work or at home, or you may rely on it for business research, interchange with peers, or simply for information or entertainment.

What you really want to know, however, is whether the Internet can be used as a business or organizational tool-and, if so, how to make that happen.

Intranets offer the means to that end, by harnessing the raw power of the Internet and applying it to individual organizational requirements. The real beauty of an intranet is its flexibility. There is no single formula or universal template, meaning that each organization can-and should-define, design, and use the intranet in the manner that best reflects its individual culture and supports its business objectives.

This chapter introduces the intranet concept and illustrates its usefulness.