Corporate intranets in deep trouble, expert says

You’d think the rise of social media would’ve brought the corporate intranet into its own, but it’s just the opposite, according to noted consultant Shel Holtz

Recently Ragan.com spoke with Shel Holtz, nationally known consultant, speaker and writer on Internet and intranet issues. In a November blog post, Holtz characterized intranets as “in trouble,” citing a new study of Irish intranets which found that:

Holtz argues that from what he’s seen in his consulting practice, these results would be mirrored in the U.S.—or perhaps even worse.

A commenter on Holtz’s blog replied that the problem is that intranets have become too top-down: The home page is filled with “distant corporate stuff” that has little effect on employees. According to this observer, companies need to emphasize departmental ownership and control of content, while lessening top-down control of intranet communication in order prepare the way for “third-generation” intranets.

But Holtz finds the intranet’s flaws even more far-reaching. Holtz told Ragan.com that American employees say there are at least six main problems with intranets: