561 organizations of all sizes from across the planet participated in the Intranet 2.0 Global Survey and the results reveal rapid adoption of social media on the corporate intranet in the past year.

Once a nice-to-have or a future wish, Intranet 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis and other vehicles have become mainstream, and are present in nearly 50% of organizations (regardless of size) in the Western World.

Intranet blogs, wikis and discussion forums are quite pervasive, while other less common tools such as podcasts and mashups remain an after-thought at most organizations:

• 47% have intranet wikis (17% enterprise deployment); 10% have no plans or interest

• 45% have intranet blogs (13% enterprise deployment); 11% have no plans or interest

• 46% have intranet discussion forums (19% enterprise use); 9% have no plans or interest

• 46% have intranet instant messaging (29% enterprise use); 21% have no plans or interest

• 19% have intranet social networking (6% enterprise use); 20% have no plans or interest

Microsoft dominance

Microsoft is leading the 2.0 charge and dominating all competition. For those organizations that have deployed 2.0 tools inside the firewall, about half of all organizations have SharePoint (in some shape or form):

• 48% of organizations use SharePoint

• 20% of organizations use Facebook,17% of organizations use MediaWiki,16% of organizations use WordPress

Cost of Intranet 2.0

Intranet 2.0 is cheap. Of those organizations that have implemented 2.0 tools, almost half have spent $10,000 or less on these tools:

• 46% have spent $10,000 or less

• 35% have spent between $10,000 and $100,000,19% have spent $100,000 or more

Poor execution

Sadly though, despite the low cost of entry and ease of technology, satisfaction levels with Intranet 2.0 tools are dangerously low:

• Only 29% of organizations rate the tool functionality as good or very good; 24% rate them as poor or very poor

• Satisfaction rates with executives is dangerously low: only 23% of executives rate the 2.0 tools as good or very good; 38% rate them as poor or very poor

To download a free, summarized version of the report please visit:

http://www.prescientdigital.com/articles/download-summary-report-of-intranet-2-0-global-survey

To purchase the full, 44-page report of analysis & recommendations please visit: http://www.prescientdigital.com/articles/purchase-intranet-2-0-global-survey-report

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For more information please contact:

Toby Ward, CEO

Prescient Digital Media

416.926.8800

toby@prescientdigital.com

About the Intranet 2.0 Survey

561 organizations took the survey:

• 36% come from the U.S; 24% from Europe; 11% from Canada; 11% from Australia / New Zealand; 10% from UK

• 61% have more than 1,000 employees; 32% have 6,000 or more employees; 39% have less than 1000 employees

• 53% of organizations have had an intranet for 7 or more years; 17% of organizations have had an intranet for 2 years or less

• 13% of the organizations are government; 13% from technology; 12% from financial services; 6% from healthcare

• The survey was led by Toby Ward, President, Prescient Digital Media

About Prescient Digital Media

Prescient Digital Media is a group of senior intranet and Internet consultants that provide strategic Internet and intranet consulting, planning and communications services to organizations of all sizes. Our clients include: Amgen, Covidien, CBC, CIBC, HSBC, Liberty Mutual, Manulife Financial, Mastercard, Nintendo, Pepsi, RBC Financial Group, TD, and more than 100 others.  Prescient’s focus includes the assessment, planning, technology selection, content and launch of intranets, websites, and web-based tools. For more information please contact Prescient Digital Media through the website at www.PrescientDigital.com or phone 416.926.8800.

Additional reading

Intranet articles & case studies – www.IntanetBlog.com

Follow us on Twitter – www.Twitter.com/Intanet2

Join the Intranet Global Forum on Facebook – www.Facebook.com/group.php?gid=2723005032

View our presentations on intranets on our SlideShare channel – www.slideshare.net/prescient

Watch Toby discussing the future of intranets – www.YouTube.com/watch?v=kaTMOTpRVQk

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See the topics covered in this year's survey.

Among the learnings last year:

• C-level executives now participate on the intranet steering committees of half of the respondent companies that have a steering committee (about 1/3 of the respondent companies have a steering committee; roughly 1/6th of the total respondents therefore have a senior executive actively involved)

• Only 45% have networks or communities of practice for content contributors

• Only 36% of the organizations have “clearly designated business owners for content”

• only 1% stage 1 intranets have wikis in general use (optimized); 35% are testing intranets (n some parts)

• 10% of stage 3 intranets have wikis in general use (optimized); 74% are testing intranets (in some parts)

• 2% of stage 3 intranets have wikis in general use (optimized); 30% are testing intranets (in some parts)

Here's what other readers of the report have said:

• "Great survey, really got me thinking about the Intranet and portal. Just answering the questions felt beneficial - so I really, really cannot wait for the report!"

• "Not only this is a moment when we pause and realize what we do, but it's also food for thoughts, research and projects." from a 3-time participant

• "With the help of my colleagues we have completed the survey. We all found it very interesting and it has also provided us with some helpful self-analysis questions. It will be interesting to see the consolidated information."

Sign-up to parcipate in the 2009 survey and receive a free copy of the in-depth research report.

Additionally, if you want a focus on social media and intranets (Intranet 2.0) download Summary Report of Intranet 2.0 Global Survey.

ADDITIONAL READING ON INTRANET TRENDS:

Intranet trends

Intranet statistics

Learning from the best intranets

Selling an intranet redesign

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I spend a lot of time talking about intranet planning and straregyAn all too common complaint from web managers is that their website does not enjoy the support from executives it deserves.

But is lack of support the fault of the executives who fail to grasp internet value, or the web manager who fails to talk their talk and present the website value in a concise, impactful way that will motivate executives to support the web?

The fault lies squarely with the web manager, according to a practical, helpful white paper “Best Practices for Creating a Web Strategy: What Web Managers Need to Know,” produced by J. Boye, a vendor-neutral analyst firm.

Read more:

Website strategy best practices

Other mandatory reading:

Check out this great article from Andrew Wright: 8 good business reasons for having an intranet

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Toby Ward's definition of an intranet (first committed to paper in 2001 in the Finding ROI white paper):

A private network, similar to the Internet and using the same protocols and technology, that is contained within an enterprise. It may consist of many inter-linked local area networks (LANs), desktop computers, websites and portals, and email system(s). However, in common vernacular, the intranet is the internal website home page that is for employees only -- and the other internal websites that link to it.

Wikipedia definition of an intranet:

An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet technologies to securely share any part of an organization's information or operational systems with its employees. Sometimes the term refers only to the organization's internal website, but often it is a more extensive part of the organization's computer infrastructure and private websites are an important component and focal point of internal communication and collaboration.

No surprises, really.

Another term that causes confusion, more so than the intranet, is “portal” or “corporate portal” (sometimes referred to as an “enterprise information portal”).

Toby Ward's definition of an intranet portal (first committed to paper in version 2 (2003) of the Finding ROI white paper):

A primary website on the enterprise intranet. A web-based gateway to most, if not all, tools and information on the enterprise intranet. The portal can be a ‘catch all’ for all of the intranet, or a business unit or function specific portal (i.e. Sales or HR portal). The characteristics that best distinguish it from a standard intranet home page include:

1- application integration

2- advanced security (authentication / authorization / personalization)

3- enterprise search (search that extends beyond the intranet home page, but doesn't necessarily search every single shared drive, email folder & enterprise database).

Wikipedia definition of an intranet portal:

An intranet portal is the gateway that unifies access to all enterprise information and applications[1] on an intranet. It is a tool that helps a company manage its data, applications, and information more easily, and through personalized views. Some portal solutions today are able to integrate legacy applications, other portals objects, and handle thousands of user requests. For enterprise user, it is also known as an enterprise portal.

Now the lines blur somewhat as different consultants and vendors use different definitions (mostly to serve their sales needs). I've never seen a portal that “unifies access to all” enterprise information and applications, though “unifies access” is open to interpretation. If a simple hypertext link to a database qualifies as unified access then perhaps this is true. However, this is why my definition for the past 6 years was written to say “most, if not all, tools and information.” I don't think a portal is an “all” or “nothing” scenario, but it certainly seems to fit if the portal unifies “most” information and applications.

Why are we even talking about this?

The question once again arose last week when I wrote about the importance of strategy and planning for an intranet (see Intranet strategy & execution). An intranet strategy (which may include one universal plan or multiple plans) should encompass all internal facing websites, and apply standards across the network, including all social media, email and related systems.

The intranet strategy should include the use of a portal (where applicable), internal websites, social media, shared drives, and related knowledge management systems. Exclusions might include specialized applications that are for a small, minority audience such as senior executives and the finance team (e.g. Oracle financials, board of directors extranet, CRM system, etc.)

Here's the rub: regardless of your definition, you require a solid intranet strategy that defines what can be done by whom (roles and responsibilities) and according to defined standards (rules).

Get the funding your intranet needs: Winning support for your intranet/intranet 2.0 initiative (free webinar)

Having trouble selling an intranet redesign? Or securing funding for a new CMS or social media tool?

During times of economic downturn, organizations are seeking to discover new ways to make the most of their investments, but too many fail to understand the intranet's value and potential to increase business performance.

Join this free webinar to learn how to convince executives to cough up the cash for your intranet redesign.

• Date: June 25, 2009

• Location: Free Webinar 12 pm EDT

See Winning support for your intranet/intranet 2.0 initiative (free webinar)

RELATED READING:

Intranet strategy & execution

Finding ROI (Intranet ROI) white paper (free)

NEED HELP REDESIGNING YOUR INTRANET?

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This video will create some diverging opinions and controversy, just as my presentation “SharePoint Pros & Cons” did when I delivered it in Denmark. This on-camera interview was conducted in Copenhagen immediately after my presentation (at IntraTeam). Granted I was severely jet-lagged and suffering from exhaustion when I did the interview, but I stand my words and assessment: SharePoint (MOSS 2007) is a fantastic solution, but it is not the best solution for every scenario, and every organization. Anyone who argues this should throw-away the Kool-Aid.

As I stress in my comments, SharePoint is ultimately what you make of it, and you can do some amazing things with it, at any organization. However, success with MOSS is a function of time and money. The out-of-the-box solution is not appropriate for all business scenarios in all companies. But it is an excellent solution for a small to medium size business, or as a department-level solution in a larger enterprise. Given the cost and complexity involved with customization, I don't believe it makes sense to use it as a large, enterprise intranet be-all solution for larger organizations; its possible to make it so, but what is the opportunity cost versus other portal or ECM solutions?

Feel free to comment and weigh-in with your opinions, but no flame mail please (I will just embarrass you for doing so). If you're a Microsoft employee or partner, then please disclose that you rely on SharePoint to make a living. Ditto if you're a Microsoft customer or independent consultant.

Keep in mind, I too am a SharePoint user, but we (Prescient Digital Media) also uses other CMSs, portals & social media solutions too. We are strictly technology-neutral with no reseller agreements. I have no agenda or ax to grind; I merely seek to inform my readers and clients about the strengths and weaknesses of the superb, but not perfect solution that is MOSS 2007.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Advice for SharePoint customers

SharePoint overview (pros & cons, MOSS)

The SharePoint Plan (MOSS)

SharePoint governance & intranet ownership (MOSS 2007)

SharePoint requires proper architecture & governance

Why you should or shouldn’t choose Microsoft Sharepoint

Planning for SharePoint success

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