Introduction

Intranet managers are often in the position of having to use whatever technology is available, and often this is a WCMS application, and even a search application, that is being used for the organization's website. Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (often abbreviated to MOSS07) has been implemented by organizations as a generic information management and collaboration platform, and is often offered to the intranet manager as the solution to all their problems. Microsoft SharePoint 2010 is now available and organizations are in the process of deciding whether or not to upgrade, and when to do so.

Provided that the WMCS and search applications meet the requirements of the intranet then it makes good business sense to gain the most from the investment. If this is not the case then the future development of the intranet can be seriously affected. Another technology issue that faces intranet managers is that increasingly the intranet is a gateway into other applications, and this can give rise to not only technology issues (which can usually be solved) but also information authentication and security management issues, which can be much more difficult to solve.

Even if the intranet manager is not in total command of the technology platforms available the intranet needs to have a technology strategy so that the implications of changes in the applications available can be clearly determined, and the risks and benefits assessed.

Web content management

Although there is some commonality between presenting content on a website and on an intranet, there are also some significant differences. That does not mean that a CMS designed for website use, with sophisticated graphics management and built-in e-marketing and ecommerce applications, will not be suitable for an intranet, but it is unlikely that this will be the case. The main differences between an intranet and a website are described in the following sections.

Distributed content contribution

Websites are usually maintained by a core staff of specialists, either within the organization or at an agency, who take content from depart - ments of the organization and add it to the website. They become power users, very familiar with short cuts through the application, and often have a significant amount of technical expertise in HTML and XML.