Staff Training for Efficient Company Operations - Part I

Initiation to the use of an Intranet

Oct 21, 2003

Part 1 - Initiation to the use of an Intranet

By Greg Richburg, MCSE
Netricks, Inc.

Thank you for tuning in and viewing this short presentation about a new concept for your organization and especially your organization’s I.T. department.

I am sure we are all big fans of the Internet, and we have all traversed many layers of the World Wide Web, yet here is a similar concept that you may or may not be familiar with.

The INTRANET
Now many companies know exactly what it is, but have not yet become acquainted with it, or unleashed its power. Others have no idea that there is such a thing. That's ok; you will be amazed at what you can learn in less then ten minutes.

Understand the Mission!

Consider the following...
- Increased company wide technical efficiency.
- A well informed technical staff.
- Secure online troubleshooting and service handbooks.
- Remote access to a fully integrated technical call center.

An Intranet is a private network that is contained within an enterprise.

The main purpose of an Intranet is to share company information and computing resources among employees. An Intranet can also be used to facilitate training, company policy and standardizations. It can be private, secure and a great medium to share confidential information through the use of a well defined permissions and security structure.

An Intranet uses standard Internet protocols and in general looks like a private version of the good'ol Internet.

What is your goal?

One could be the Employee Guidebook.
Do you ever wonder where information is stored on your company network?
How often do you need information at your fingertips, but don't know where to find it?
Do you ever have trouble finding a document or form that is supposed to be part of a shared resource?

Online documentation is enormously beneficial to every department. An Intranet can house informative indexes that link directly to department resources. Departments remain organized because it is easy to do so. Standards are published in a place where everyone can see them, and you don’t have to dig for the papers you received the day you were hired. Thus, policies are widely enforced because the information is easily attainable.

Picture this!

A novice technician gets hired at a reasonable rate into a department that is under staffed and overworked. The novice needs a mentor, but the experienced just don’t have time to baby sit. Sound familiar?
- But what is your method for installing e-mail?
- How do I set up a printer for the accounting department?
- What applications go on this new system for human resources?
- Who is the primary contact in public relations?


INTRANET!!

There’s your answer.
The advantages are obvious. User manuals online, setup guides online, standardizations and procedures… online. A novice technician no longer has to wait around for someone’s assistance. Network structure, documentation, contact info… it is all there.

All the rest!!

How much money did your company spend printing all the employee handbooks? What? You didn’t get one??? Hmmm… Come to think of it, neither did I. Well anyway, it was probably too much. Now consider these benefits all online:
- New employee training.
- Troubleshooting guides.
- Knowledgebase.
- Frequently asked questions.
- Department contact info.
- Company policy and procedure guides.

This could be yours. Call now to find out how.

Greg Richburg a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and the owner of Netricks, Inc. a network consulting, web design and hosting company located in Fresno, CA. Visit Netricks at http://www.netricks.com.