10 - Implementing search for an intranet

Summary

In this chapter:

■ A ten-step procedure that will ensure effective intranet search implementation

The ten-step process to implementing intranet search

Although the basic principles for selecting an intranet search engine are the same as for a web search engine, there are some important differences and hence the steps are somewhat different:

Step 1 What will be the benefits to employees?

Step 2 Consider the technical options

Step 3 Develop and obtain approval for a business case

Step 4 Write a project plan

Step 5 Define a test document set

Step 6 Scope the user interface

Step 7 Select a vendor

Step 8 Install and test for usability

Step 9 Optimize search performance

Step 10 Have a development strategy.

Step 1 What will be the benefits to employees?

Arguably the expectations of employees are much higher than those of a visitor to a website. There is often an alternative website, but in most organizations that have an intranet this is the default information platform, and contains (at least in theory) all the core information an employee needs to meet organizational and personal objectives. The primary role of an intranet is to enable better decisions to be made. Certainly there is a subsidiary role in being a communications channel, but the business case for investing resources in an intranet is increasingly about supporting tasks. Whereas with a website hyperlinks are an important way of supporting information discovery, the scale of an intranet, the diversity of the content and the number of contributors means that hyperlinks are not as rigorously implemented and managed as they are in good websites. There should be no excuse for poorly implemented search in an intranet, as the search function has to make up for the inevitable weaknesses in hyperlinks.

Compared to website statistics, similar information for an intranet, even when it is available, is much less helpful, though of course if the site already has a search engine then the search logs should be carefully reviewed. In the case of an intranet, its future development within the overall information management strategy of the organization must be considered from the outset.