Hi all,

There is no more contentious page than the intranet homepage. The
main article for this month outlines 7 purposes for the homepage,
and points to how to get the right balance. We also look at having
an intranet section on the intranet, and how to do user testing
when there's no time or budget.

We're also pleased to flag that this year's Intranet Innovation Award
winnners will be announced next week, on November 5th (Australian
time).

In addition to sharing details on the web, we'll be holding free
afternoon sessions in Sydney (Nov 5), Melbourne (Nov 10) and
Canberra (Nov 26):

www.steptwo.com.au/seminars


---

In this edition:

* Seven roles of the intranet homepage
* About the intranet, on the intranet
* Some testing is better than none


New articles
======================

* Seven roles of the intranet homepage
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_homepage/index.html
    There are many different uses for the intranet homepage, and a balance
    must be gained to meet business and staff needs.

* About the intranet, on the intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_aboutintranet/index.html
    The intranet should have a section devoted to the intranet itself,
    communicating to stakeholders, authors and general staff.

* Some testing is better than none
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_testing/index.html
    Even when time and resources are tight, it is always worth squeezing
    in at least a little user testing.

Related articles:

* Promote intranet successes
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_promotesuccess/index.html
    Intranet teams should use a range of approaches to track and
    communicate their success stories, to managers and the wider
    organisation.

* What is usability?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_whatisusability/index.html
    This article provides an overview of what usability is (and what it is
    not), as well as giving ideas on how to include more usability
    activities in projects.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

With the release of this year's winners of the Intranet Innovation
Awards imminent, we've organised a series of events throughout Australia
to share the remarkable ideas and approaches that have been uncovered.

Full details:
www.steptwo.com.au/seminars

This year's winners come from the USA, UK, Denmark, Russia, Australia
and New Zealand. One winner has demonstrated $8 million of savings from
their intranet project, and others have delivered solutions that have
become core to how their organisations work. With ten winners, there are
ideas that can be implemented by every intranet team.

We will be holding an official awards ceremony in Sydney. The winners
will be formally announced, and the overall Platinum winner handed their
trophy. We'll then be holding events in Melbourne and Canberra, with
dates as follows:

* Sydney: 5 November 2009
* Melbourne: 10 November 2009
* Canberra: 27 November 2009

These are free afternoon events that will share insights, screenshots
and ideas from this year’s winners. Discover approaches that can be
reused in your organisation, and connect up with other teams.

Last year we had packed rooms, so be sure to book your place quickly.
Note that while this is a free event, registration is required before
attending.

For more information:
www.steptwo.com.au/seminars

Regards,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Hi all,

Rich media use continues to grow within organisations. Following
on from last month's articles, a guest article by the Forest
Products Commission shares what they are doing with video. We also
look at the role of intranets in giving access to collaboration tools,
and what to look for when selecting a visual designer.

---

In this edition:

* Creating high quality intranet videos at the Forest Products
    Commission
* Using the intranet to access collaboration tools
* What to look for in a visual designer


New articles
======================

* Creating high quality intranet videos at the Forest Products
    Commission
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetvideos/index.html
    The Forest Products Commission shares their use of video, in this
    guest article.

* Using the intranet to access collaboration tools
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_collabaccess/index.html
    The home page of the intranet should provide a one-click gateway to
    collaboration tools.

* What to look for in a visual designer
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_engagingvisualdesigner/index.html
    Getting the right visual designer for your intranet or website project
    is critical.

Related articles:

* Using audio and video on the intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_richmedia/index.html
    Intranet-based rich media, including audio and video, provides new
    ways of connecting with staff.

* Should the intranet look sexy?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_sexyintranet/index.html
    Public-facing websites often have a strong marketing element to them,
    but do intranets need to be as polished in their design?

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

Intranets should be more than just text, and this month's main article
explores the opportunities for rich media, including audio and video.
We also look at the risks of collaboration, and the questions to ask
when staff say "I want a wiki".

Don't forget that we also have a full calendar of upcoming events
throughout Australia, covering collaboration and the design of
intranets:

http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars

---

In this edition:

* Using audio and video on the intranet
* Mitigating enterprise collaboration risks
* Collaboration: questions to ask


New articles
======================

* Using audio and video on the intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_richmedia/index.html
    Intranet-based rich media, including audio and video, provides new
    ways of connecting with staff.

* Mitigating enterprise collaboration risks
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_collabrisks/index.html
    There are many perceived and actual risks relating to enterprise
    collaboration, and there are many ways of mitigating them.

* Collaboration: questions to ask
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_collabquestions/index.html
    A central team needs to ask many questions to understand business unit
    and team collaboration needs.

Related articles:

* Cutting through the hype of social media
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_socialmediahype/index.html
    There are many practical ways of applying the principles and tools of
    social media within organisations.

* Successful collaboration requires support
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_supportcollab/index.html
    This briefing outlines some practical steps that all organisations
    should take to help business areas and staff make the best of
    collaboration tools.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

Metrics, measures and creating a business case have become hot
topics for intranet teams. This month's main article outlines some
practical ways of demonstrating the value of intranet projects.
We also look at the growth of social media, and the focus of
the intranet manager.

---

In this edition:

* Planning to demonstrate success
* What is the biggest mistake an intranet manager can make?
* Cutting through the hype of social media


New articles
======================

* Planning to demonstrate success
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_planningsuccess/index.html
    The different uses for PDFs and web-based content on intranets is a
    common source of confusion.

* What is the biggest mistake an intranet manager can make?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_mistake/index.html
    Intranet managers need to be careful not to get caught up in their own
    experiences and perspectives.

* Cutting through the hype of social media
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_socialmediahype/index.html
    There are many practical ways of applying the principles and tools of
    social media within organisations.

Related articles:

* Metrics for KM and CM
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_metrics/index.html
    Metrics are an effective way of setting project targets, assessing
    success, and tracking ongoing health. This article summarises a range
    of practical KM and CM-related metrics.

* Integrating social tools with the EUMETSAT intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_eumetstat/index.html
    A wiki for new starters and a discussion forum enhance collaboration
    at EUMETSAT.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

Step Two has spent the last decade examining the practices of intranet
teams, with the goal of uncovering and sharing what works (and what
doesn't). For the first time, there is a now a full online training
course that gives you access to this latest thinking on intranet
strategy and management.

CMS Watch, in partnership with Step Two Designs, today released
Fundamentals of a Successful Intranet, the first online course to lay
out best practices for intranet teams:

http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/intranet-course

Designed for both existing intranet managers and those planning a new
enterprise intranet, the course outlines the business case for
improvement, and then identifies key factors in delivering a successful
intranet.

Almost every organisation has an intranet, providing access to key
corporate knowledge, a channel for communication to all staff, and a
gateway to enterprise systems. While many intranets are more than a
decade old, they still struggle to realise their potential business
value.

The course explains current state-of-the-art, as well as outlining
emerging directions. Using real-world examples from around the globe,
the course offers a strategy for delivering a successful intranet, as
well as a straightforward approach to identifying practical
improvements.

---

Full details on the course:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/intranet-course

Regards,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Hi all,

This month we look at the common characteristics and practices of
successful intranet managers, including a quick self-assessment
questionnaire. We also examine the CMS selection process, and the
role of PDFs on intranets.

---

In this edition:

* What do successful intranet managers have in common?
* Who is choosing the new CMS?
* What intranet content should be in PDF format?


New articles
======================

* What do successful intranet managers have in common?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_successcommon/index.html
    Successful intranet managers balance their technical skills, business
    acumen and leadership capabilities, and take a pragmatic approach to
    their sites.

* Who is choosing the new CMS?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_whoselects/index.html
    There are three groups involved in the selection of a new CMS:
    steering committee or senior sponsor, the stakeholder group, and the
    evaluation team.

* What intranet content should be in PDF format?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_pdfintranet/index.html
    The different uses for PDFs and web-based content on intranets is a
    common source of confusion.

Related articles:

* Leadership tips for intranet teams
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_leadershiptips/index.html
    Intranet teams must take on a strong leadership role, and drive
    forward the evolution and enhancement of the site.

* Top 10 mistakes when selecting a CMS
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_selectionmistakes/index.html
    Organisations often make the selection of a CMS much harder than it
    needs to be. They do this by running into common pitfalls that impact
    on the selection and success of the CMS project.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

This month we explore five fundamental intranet publishing models,
looking at the strengths and weaknesses of each. We also examine
intranet strategy from two directions: going beyond just reducing
intranet frustration, and targeting emotions in the intranet business
case.

---

In this edition:

* Five intranet publishing models
* Going beyond reducing intranet frustration
* Target emotions in the business case


New articles
======================

* Five intranet publishing models
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_publishing/index.html
    There are five fundamental publishing models for an intranet, and
    each has strengths and weaknesses.

* Going beyond reducing intranet frustration
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_frustration/index.html
    If intranets are to achieve their full potential, intranet teams must
    go beyond just reducing frustration.

* Target emotions in the business case
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_emotions/index.html
    Intranet business cases need to beyond dry numbers and
    recommendations, and target emotions and key business needs.

Related articles:

* Creating an "intranet concept"
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetconcept/index.html
    An intranet concept is a single sheet of paper which outlines where
    the intranet is at, where it is going, and what it will deliver in the
    short-term.

* The enemy of intranets is apathy
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_apathy/index.html
    The enemy of intranets is not resistance to change, it is apathy,
    which must be overcome to build support and resources.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

We've been working hard on two major projects, and we're pleased
to announce the results of the first of these: a brand new book!

Over the last eight years, we've published 200+ articles covering every
aspect of intranets, and beyond. While these have proven to be very
useful for intranet teams, what we hadn't done was pull together all
this information into a single volume. Until now.


What every intranet team should know
------------------------------------

http://www.steptwo.com.au/products

The only book of its type in the world, What every intranet team should
know provides a succinct overview of managing and growing intranets. A
must-have for every intranet team, whether just starting or looking for
fresh ideas.

This is the definitive 'quick start' guide to intranets, providing
intranet teams with a to-the-point overview of how to plan, design,
manage and grow intranets.

The book covers key topics:

* Six phases of intranet evolution
* Four purposes of the intranet
* How to find out what staff need
* How to design the intranet
* How to deliver great content
* The role of the intranet team
* How to plan intranet improvements

For the first time, we've released this volume as a beautifully printed
A5-sized 110-page book. This is available via Lulu internationally, and
directly from us if you're based in Australia.

---

Full details on the book:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/everyteam

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

(apologies for duplicate postings)

Hello; I'd like to get the word out that Donna Spencer's new book *Card
Sorting:  Designing Usable Categories *is now available!  You can purchase
it directly from Rosenfeld Media in paperback and digital formats (
http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/books/cardsorting/ ).  It's also available via
Amazon.com
It's probably fair to say that we've all heard of card sorting--and that
many user experience people have first-hand experience with it.  But as
familiar as it is, there's not much out there--beyond a few book chapters
and articles--that takes a deeper, more nuanced look at how to use the
method and what to do with the data.  We hope that Donna's book fills the
gap.  Thanks and please consider sharing the news.

cheers


Louis Rosenfeld :: http://louisrosenfeld.com
Rosenfeld Media :: http://rosenfeldmedia.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

This month we take a look at the rapidly growing space of online
discussions and other social media, and explore best-practice
approaches to moderation. We also examine staff directories, and
good interview techniques for intranet research.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: entries for this year's Intranet Innovation
Awards close at the end of the week (May 1). Not too late to
enter, as everyone leaves it to the last moment!

www.steptwo.com.au/iia

---

In this edition:

* Moderating internal discussion forums, blogs and other social media
* Use good interview techniques
* Sources of staff directory information


New articles
======================

* Moderating internal discussion forums, blogs and other social media
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_onlinemoderation/index.html
    There are three options for moderating online discussions:
    self-regulation, light moderation and full moderation.

* Use good interview techniques
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_interviewtechnique/index.html
    Following a core set of guidelines will greatly improve the
    effectiveness of staff interviews.

* Sources of staff directory information
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_staffsource/index.html
    There are three main sources of staff directory information: IT
    systems, HR/payroll, and staff themselves.

Related articles:

* Collaboration is about people
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_collabpeople/index.html
    This article explores the human face of collaboration, touching upon a
    range of enterprise issues and considerations.

* Three ways to update the staff directory
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_updatestaffdir/index.html
    There are three main ways of keeping a staff directory up to date:
    centralised updates, self-service updating and via integration.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

A few quick notes about our upcoming workshops:

* Our Brisbane intranet session (May 22) has sold out.

* We've organised a second Brisbane date (June 17), and this is already
    filling fast, with a wait-list from the earlier event.

* Our Sydney intranet session (May 7) is down to the last place,
    and this will almost certainly go today.

* We have a few places left for our Sydney CMS session (May 14),
    but we'd recommend being quick.

All these workshops are limited to small numbers (8-10), to
ensure that we get maximum interactivity and value.

For details on these events:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars

Cheers,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

THE SURVEY IS CLOSING & YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED -- THE FINDINGS ARE FREE!

500 organizations of all sizes from across the planet have participated and the
findings are invaluable - and surprising. If you haven't already done so, please
take 8 minutes to take the Intranet 2.0 Global Survey and you'll get a copy of
the full results including the good, bad and learned lessons. Please also direct
clients and fellow colleagues. It doesn't cost anything, and I'm not charging
anything.

PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTRANET 2.0 TOOLS -- WE REQUIRE
BOTH PERSPECTIVES!!

Survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey.zgi?p=WEB227RVUZZBRC

Respondents who complete the survey will be eligible to win $400 (a random email
address will be drawn from all responses to the survey). All respondents will
also receive a full copy of the results at no cost.

Survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey.zgi?p=WEB227RVUZZBRC

A sneak preview of the results to date is here:
http://intranetblog.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/10/9/3923844.html

Hi all,

I’m pleased to announce the release of the latest Step Two report:

---

Governance and support for SharePoint team sites:
a best practice case study

http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/teamsites/

---

Microsoft SharePoint is now rapidly spreading through organisations. In
terms of team collaboration, this is meeting a very real need.

If unmanaged, however, this explosive growth will generate more problems
than benefits. What is needed is clear governance and support, and this
best practice case study shows the way.

This 24-page report features a case study from Transfield Services, a
global services firm headquartered in Australia, which won a Gold Award
in the 2008 Intranet Innovation Awards.

Transfield's key innovation was productising their approach to
collaboration spaces with 'Team Sites in a Box', and compiling a
near-perfect design, support and governance methodology and model, which
then saw rapid, but controlled uptake within the organisation.

This report provides an example of an organisation that has "done it",
vital evidence when building senior management support for establishing
appropriate governance and support for collaboration tools.

If you're working with SharePoint team sites or considering rolling them
out, this case study is a must-have. Using these recommendations on
collaboration, support, and governance, you can avoid the typical and
costly collaboration space mistakes and make your project a success from
the start.

---

Full details on the report:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/teamsites/

Cheers,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Lecture 2 of 5 is now live: SharePoint for Communicators.

SharePoint is the hottest, most pervasive, and most licensed intranet technology
ever created. This 5 week online course webinar teaches communicators what they
need to know about the SharePoint (MOSS) platform -- without the techie or
marketing-speak.

This course is not live and is far more intensive than the average webinar: with
lots of text and multimedia. Participants can go at their own speed, whenever
they like, and can sign-up to start the course retroactively (you can join
anytime and take past lectures)

Read more at Shel Holtz Webinars
»http://www.shelholtzwebinars.com/index.php/site/webinar/C99/

Hi all,

This month's main article looks at the social tools that have been
put to work at EUMESTAT in Europe. We also explore the cultural
readiness for collaboration, and the importance of using the intranet
to help staff complete tasks.

We've also launched two one-day expert sessions, to be run in Sydney.
These have will have a maximum of 8 participants, so they're not to
be missed:

* Expert session: intranet strategy & management
    Sydney, 7 May 2009
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/expert-session-intranets-sydney/

* Expert session: CMS selection strategies
    Sydney, 14 May 2009
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/expert-session-CMS-sydney/

---

In this edition:

* Integrating social tools with the EUMETSAT intranet
* No collaboration without communications
* Does your intranet close the business process loop?


New articles
======================

* Integrating social tools with the EUMETSAT intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_eumetstat/index.html
    A wiki for new starters and a discussion forum enhance collaboration
    at EUMETSAT.

* No collaboration without communications
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_nocollaboration/index.html
    Getting the fundamentals of good communication right is a prerequisite
    for collaboration initiatives.

* Does your intranet close the business process loop?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_closetheloop/index.html
    The intranet is a powerful way of helping staff to get things done
    more effectively.

Related articles:

* Improving your intranet, task by task
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_taskbytask/index.html
    By improving the way the intranet supports key tasks, immediate
    business benefits can be delivered in a manageable and cost-effective
    manner.

* Two uses for wikis
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_twowikis/index.html
    Wikis can be used as both collaboration tools and as an intranet, and
    these are two very different situations.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

We're pleased to announce that the 2009 Intranet Innovation Awards are
now open for submissions, with all details available on our site:

http://www.steptwo.com.au/iia

Very important: the closing date is 1 May 2009, so don't miss out
on your chance to a win a beautiful glass trophy!

The Intranet Innovation Awards are global awards that celebrate new
ideas and innovative approaches to the design and delivery of intranets.
Uniquely, these awards recognise individual innovations, and not
intranets as a whole.

We've posted a lot of information on the site, including the
all-important entry form, tips for submissions, information on our
judges, resources on previous winners and much more.

The Intranet Innovation Awards are open to any professional or team that
works directly on a company intranet site, whether a global corporation
or small business. Previous winners have included brokerage firms
to national non-profits, pharmaceutical subsidiaries to insurance and
financial services organisations.

Their winning entries have ranged from small, web-like applications and
carefully crafted persona packs, to competitor intelligence wikis, "Team
sites in a box", workflow tools, enhanced staff directories, location
tools, community forms and speaking intranet news.

Head over to the intranet innovation Awards homepage to learn more about
this year's awards and if you have any questions, please do contact us:

awards@...

(And don't forget, the closing date is May 1st!)

Cheers,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Hi all,

After a break over the new year, we're back into our regular publishing
schedule for articles. This month we look at how to deliver
custom features and interactive elements on websites and intranets.
We also look at conducting research with remote staff, and working
in virtual teams.

And a final reminder that we have a free Intranet Innovation Awards
roadshow coming up in Sydney on February 23:

http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/iia-sydney/

---

In this edition:

* Custom code, CMS and portals
* Needs analysis from a distance
* Tools for remote teams to keep in touch


New articles
======================

* Custom code, CMS and portals
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_customcode/index.html
    There are three main approaches to delivering custom functionality and
    interactive features on websites and intranets.

* Needs analysis from a distance
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_needsanalysisdistance/index.html
    There are practical ways to understand the needs of staff who are
    located in remote or regional locations.

* Tools for remote teams to keep in touch
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_remoteteams/index.html
    A range of tools and techniques can be used to help remote teams work
    well together, despite the distances involved.

Related articles:

* Conducting intranet needs analysis
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_needsanalysis/index.html
    Determining what an intranet is actually for involves gaining an
    in-depth understanding of staff (and organisational) needs and issues.

* CMS interoperability?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_interoperability/index.html
    While the goal of interoperability between content management systems
    (CMS) is very important, it is limited by the lack of implemented
    standards.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

Late last year we ran a series of free afternoon events sharing
insights from the 2008 Intranet Innovation Awards.

The awards are unique in recognising individual improvements to
intranets, not sites as a whole. Winners show how new approaches to
designing and delivering intranets can help staff and deliver real value
to organisations.

This is the last of our events, to be held in Sydney on Monday,
February 23. The previous sessions were well attended, so you'll
want to sign up quickly!

---

Sydney
Monday, February 23
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

http://www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/iia-sydney

---

There are so many interesting things to show, including:

* Transfield Service's uniquely effective approach to rolling out
    SharePoint team spaces.

* Highly successful collaboration amongst cabin crew at British
    Airways.

* The rich suite of functionality delivered by this year's
    Platinum winner, Fuller Landau (Canada).

* The Competitor Wiki at Scottrade in the US.

* An intranet that speaks the news when postbus drivers ring an
    0800 number at Swiss Post.

(Plus much more.)

This "roadshow" session provide a great opportunity discover approaches
that can be reused in your organisation, and to connect up with other
intranet teams.

Cost: Free

(Note: you must register in advance to attend.)

See you there,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

(apologies for cross-posting)

Smart Experience and Rosenfeld Media are continuing our monthly
series<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/>of Future Practice user
experience webinars.  We've lined up five fantastic
presenters—*Christian Rohrer* (who's up first, this January 29), *Bill
Scott, Kristina Halvorson, Ginny Redish,* and *John Ferrara*—and more are on
the way:

    - January 29, 2009: User Research Beyond
Usability<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/user-research/>(with
    *Christian Rohrer*)
    Christian Rohrer will provide a framework for understanding and
    explaining different user research methods.
    - February 26, 2009: Bringing Design to Life: What Every Designer Should
    Know about Interface
Engineering<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/interface-engineering/>(with
    *Bill Scott*)
    Bill Scott will focus specifically on the technical challenges and
    opportunities for DHTML-based web sites and applications.
    - April 23, 2009: Content Strategy for
Websites<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/content-strategy/>(with
    *Kristina Halvorson*)
    Kristina Halvorson will offer step-by-step instructions on how to
    integrate content strategy into the website design process.
    - May 28, 2009: Shifting Your Focus: Content as
Conversation<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/content-as-conversation/>(wi\
th
    *Ginny Redish*)
    Bringing you the practical implications of linguistic research on
    conversation, Ginny will help you with your content strategy-what
    information to focus on, where it goes on the web site, how to decide how
    much to say about a particular web topic, how to organize it on the page,
    and how to write it.
    - July 16, 2009: Extending Game Design to Business
Applications<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/game-design/>(with
    *John Ferrara*)
    As more people spend more time interacting with game-based environments,
    the applicability of these experiences to everyday user interfaces and
    business applications will become impossible to ignore. This webinar will
    provide an overview of game interaction spaces, look at game design applied
    in real-world contexts, and survey useful interaction patterns found in
    games.

All the live versions run US$129, and include a recorded version as well. If
you can't make the live date, we also sell the recordings for US$79. To keep
up with future webinars (and books), subscribe to our mailing
list<http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=220389&loc=en_US>or
RSS
feed <http://feeds.rosenfeldmedia.com/rosenfeldmedia>.

Many thanks!


Louis Rosenfeld :: http://louisrosenfeld.com
Rosenfeld Media :: http://rosenfeldmedia.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

This month we start into an ongoing series of case studies which share
interesting projects we have come across in our travels. The first
covers the story of 'Boris', the intranet for the City of Casey. We
also examine the ownership of search, and the nature of CMS authors.

This will be our last articles for the year, so we'd like to wish
everyone the best of seasons greetings. Our articles will restart
in February, giving us a break over Christmas.

---

In this edition:

* Publicising the launch of ‘Boris’ at City of Casey
* Two types of CMS users
* Who owns intranet search?


New articles
======================

* Publicising the launch of ‘Boris’ at City of Casey
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_cityofcasey/index.html
    'Boris' is the intranet at City of Casey, a local government
    organisation in Victoria, Australia.

* Two types of CMS users
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_cmsusers/index.html
    There are two types of CMS users: frequent 'power' users, and
    less-frequent 'business' users. The needs of both groups must be met.

* Who owns intranet search?
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_searchownership/index.html
    In most cases, the intranet team should own search, and the
    responsibility should not be left within IT.

Related articles:

* Starting to define the intranet brand
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_definingbrand/index.html
    To be successful, intranets must have a clear definition of their
    purpose and character, underpinning decisions about future directions.

* Search doesn’t work out-of-the-box
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_searchdesign/index.html
    Out-of-the-box, search doesn’t work, and there is a small (but vital)
    piece of work needed to design and tune the search solution.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

Putting weather on the intranet homepage is a remarkably
contentious topic, almost always generating a lot of heat at
intranet gatherings.

These are my thoughts:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/dont-put-the-weather-on-the-intranet-homepag\
e/

Where do you stand on this debate?

(Feel free to post a comment on my blog, or reply here.)

Cheers,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Hi all,

Times are uncertain, and will our intranets suffer as a result? This
month's main article looks at managing the intranet during a crisis.
We also provide an overview of intranet governance, and look again at
staff directories.

---

In this edition:

* Managing the intranet through a crisis
* Basics of governance
* Extend the reach of the staff directory


New articles
======================

* Managing the intranet through a crisis
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetcrisis/index.html
    Managing the intranet through the cycles of boom and bust that are
    inevitable in our organisations and economies.

* Basics of governance
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_basicsofgovernance/index.html
    Governance is about having a framework in place that enables the
    decision-making and planning processes for the intranet.

* Extend the reach of the staff directory
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_allstaff/index.html
    Staff directories are only useful when they contain all staff, even
    those without a PC or payroll number.

Related articles:

* Starting to define the intranet brand
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_definingbrand/index.html
    To be successful, intranets must have a clear definition of their
    purpose and character, underpinning decisions about future directions.

* Three ways to update the staff directory
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_updatestaffdir/index.html
    There are three main ways of keeping a staff directory up to date:
    centralised updates, self-service updating and via integration.


We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

(apologies for cross-posting)
*
*Bolt | Peters' *Nate Bolt* and *Tony Tulathimutte* have begun work on a new
Rosenfeld Media book, *Remote
Research<http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/remote-research/>.
*It's a fantastic topic; UX people are already grappling with the impact of
technology on user research, but there's not been much published on the
topic.  We hope this book will help plug the gap and provide invaluable
guidance to UX practitioners of all stripes.

We hope you'll engage with Nate and Tony via their book's site and
blog<http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/remote-research/>.
Here's the elevator pitch:
*
* *Remote user research* describes any research method that allows you to
observe, interview, or get feedback from users while they're at a distance,
in their "native environment" (at their desk, in their home or office) doing
their own tasks. Remote studies allow you to recruit quickly, cheaply, and
immediately, and give you the opportunity to observe users as they behave
naturally in their own environment, on their own time. Our book will teach
you how to design and conduct remote research studies, top-to-bottom, with
little more than a phone and a laptop.

...and here's how to keep up with their progress:

Visit the book-in-progress *site*:
http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/remote-research/
Subscribe to the *RSS feed*:
http://feeds.rosenfeldmedia.com/remote_research
*Be notified* when the book is available for sale:
http://tinyurl.com/5q8z2x

Please spread the word; thanks!

cheers


Louis Rosenfeld :: http://louisrosenfeld.com
Rosenfeld Media :: http://rosenfeldmedia.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all; I'm excited to announce the launch of a new series of webinars on
user experience.  The Future Practice webinar series
<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/>will tackle the cutting edge of
modern UX practice.  Co-produced with Smart
Experience<http://smartexperience.org>,
the series' first two live offerings feature Rosenfeld Media authors Luke
Wroblewski and Indi Young:

    - *November 13 (1-2pm EST):* *Modern Web Form
Design<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/webforms/>
    * with Luke Wroblewski
    - *December 11 (1-2pm EST):* * Using Mental Models for Tactics and
    Strategy <http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/mental-models/>* with
    Indi Young **

Each webinar registration includes the author's book in both four-color
paperback and DRM-free digital editions.  And Intranet User Experience
subscribers can take a *20% discount* by entering code *WBNR10* at our
site<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/>
.

We'll also be providing recorded versions for those who can't participate in
the live sessions.  If you like, we can notify
you<http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/webinars/recording_notification.php>when
these versions are available for purchase.

Please spread the word; thanks!


Louis Rosenfeld :: http://louisrosenfeld.com
Rosenfeld Media :: http://rosenfeldmedia.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

The main article for October explores a fundamental topic for intranets
and websites: metadata. We also look at collaboration involving external
participants, and how to keep the staff directory up to date.

---

In this edition:

* Metadata fundamentals for intranets and websites
* Don't forget external collaborators
* Three ways to update the staff directory


New articles
======================

* Metadata fundamentals for intranets and websites
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_metadata/index.html
    While basic metadata is routinely captured by most publishing tools,
    there is still widespread confusion about its uses and limits.

* Don't forget external collaborators
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_externalcollaboration/index.html
    While collaboration tools are spreading rapidly, what has often been
    overlooked is the frequent need to include external collaborators.

* Three ways to update the staff directory
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_updatestaffdir/index.html
    There are three main ways of keeping a staff directory up to date:
    centralised updates, self-service updating and via integration.

Related articles:

* Successful collaboration requires support
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_supportcollab/index.html
    This briefing outlines some practical steps that all organisations
    should take to help business areas and staff make the best of
    collaboration tools.

* Not all content needs to be of equal quality
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_contentquality/index.html
    Efforts should be targeted at improving the quality of key
    information, while applying lower standards to the majority of
    intranet content.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

Hi all,

We're very pleased  to announce the winners of the 2008 Intranet
Innovation Awards. Global in nature, these awards celebrate new ideas
and innovative approaches to the enhancement and delivery of intranets.

Uniquely, the awards recognise individual intranet improvements, and not
intranets as a whole. The awards are about improving all intranets, by
sharing great ideas and increasing the pace of innovation across the
whole of the intranet community.

With an international judging panel, this year’s awards have raised the
bar, demonstrating very clearly the benefits that intranets can deliver.


Platinum award winner
---------------------

"Partner Dashboard and more"
Fuller Landau (Canada)

Gold awards winners
-------------------

"Location Finder"
Syngenta (Switzerland)

"Speaking Intranet News"
Swiss Post (Switzerland)

"Team Sites in a Box"
Transfield Services (Australia)

"Crew Community Forums"
British Airways (UK)

"Competitor Wiki"
Scottrade (USA)

"Project Finder"
Urbis (Australia)

"Juice"
Janssen-Cilag (Australia)

"Meter Reading Application"
YHA (UK)

Learn more
----------

Full details on all the winners can be found in the 148-page Intranet
Innovations 2008 report:

http://www.steptwo.com.au/products/iia2008/

This includes screenshots and detailed information on how the
innovations were designed and delivered, along with judges' commentaries
and more.

Download the Executive Summary (2.6mb PDF) for an overview of the
awards, as well as full details on two of the winners (Scottrade and
Janssen-Cilag):

http://www.steptwo.com.au/files/intranetinnovations08-execsummary.pdf

Congratulations to this years winners!

Thanks,
James

--
-------------------------
James Robertson, Managing Director
Step Two Designs

Email: jamesr@...
Web: www.steptwo.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9319 7901

Hi all,

This month we've written three one-pagers. The first explores the value
of cross-linking within a staff directory, while the second argues that
80% of the default functionality of an intranet search engine must be
stripped out. The last article discusses when and how to name an
intranet.

---

In this edition:

* Staff directories benefit from cross-linking
* Simplify the search user experience
* Naming the intranet


New articles
======================

* Staff directories benefit from cross-linking
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_staffdirectorylinks/
    Some of the greatest value in a staff directory comes from the
    cross-linking, within the directory and to other resources.

* Simplify the search user experience
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_simplifysearch/
    Search doesn't work out of the box, and up to 80% of the default
    functionality must be stripped out for general search users.

* Naming the intranet
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_namingintranet/
    Giving the intranet a name helps to build its identity, and may even
    give it a personality within the organisation.

Related articles:

* Online staff directories: survey results and key findings
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_staffdirectories/
    This article shares survey results and recommendations on the design
    and implementation of online staff directories, the most used element
    of most intranets.

* Starting to define the intranet brand
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_definingbrand/
    To be successful, intranets must have a clear definition of their
    purpose and character, underpinning decisions about future directions.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James

(apologies for cross-posting)

Hello; I'd like to get the word out about the fall schedule for my
workshop "Site Search Analytics for a Better User Experience".  I
focus on how site search analytics can improve the performance of
search systems, navigation, content, metadata, and ultimately the
entire user experience.  The workshop includes group discussion and
lots of hands-on analysis.

The full description and registration information are available here:
http://louisrosenfeld.com/ssa/

Dates/Locations
   * Chicago:  October 16, 9am-5pm (early regi deadline:  9/19)
   * Washington, DC:  November 11, 9am-5pm (early regi deadline:  10/17)

You might also consider attending Steve Krug's "Discount Usability
Testing" workshop (http://www.sensible.com/workshops.html) the next
day in both locations.  Discounts are available when you register for
both, as well as for early registration and when three or more
register concurrently.

Thanks; I hope to see you this fall!


Louis Rosenfeld :: http://louisrosenfeld.com
Rosenfeld Media :: http://rosenfeldmedia.com

Hi all,

It's been a busy month. The articles for this month are late because we
wanted to wait until the launch of our redesigned website (please do
have a look!). One of the key features is the ability to comment on
articles, turning static papers into online conversations.

The three articles for this month all look at collaboration. The
first highlights that team spaces must be closed when projects end,
while the second explores two types of wikis. Finally, we provide
a case study of building collaboration within WWF.

---

We've also published three blog entries which help to explain
how we work, and the services we provide:

Intranet needs analysis and strategy
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/how-we-work-1-intranet-needs-analysis-and-st\
rategy/

In-house workshops
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/how-we-work-2-in-house-workshops/

Selecting a CMS
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/how-we-work-3-selecting-a-cms/

---

In this edition:

* Collaboration: leading by example
* Close team spaces when projects end
* Two uses for wikis


New articles
======================

* Collaboration: leading by example
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_collaborationlead/
    A case study of building collaboration within WWF, by bringing
    together people who are already working together.

* Close team spaces when projects end
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_projectspaces/
    Establishing team spaces for projects can be one of the most
    productive uses of collaboration tools, but they must be closed when
    the projects end.

* Two uses for wikis
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_twowikis/
    Wikis can be used as both collaboration tools and as an intranet, and
    these are two very different situations.

Related articles:

* Chatting bolsters business
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_chat/
    This article explores the use of online chat in business and describes
    a case study of the use of instant messaging within a national enquiry
    centre for a government department that fields calls from the public
    across Australia.

* Successful collaboration requires support
    http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_supportcollab/
    This briefing outlines some practical steps that all organisations
    should take to help business areas and staff make the best of
    collaboration tools.

We also provide an announcements list, which will ensure you find out
when we publish new whitepapers. To join this, visit:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/subscribe/

Finally, don't forget to visit "Column Two", my weblog featuring
news and opinion on all things Intranets & CM:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/

Thanks,
James