Secure Internal Network and Entrepreneurshipp - Essay Example

? IT and Entrepreneurship An intranet is a secured internal network that uses TCIP and HTML protocols just like the internet. However, it operates on a local area network (LAN). If the LAN renders access to the Internet, then the intranet stays behind a firewall, which has no gateway to or from the Internet. If a gateway to the internet exists, then it can no longer be an intranet, but an extranet. It uses internet protocols, network connectivity and other systems to transfer data and information within an organization. The major use of intranet is in delivering applications and tools needed for internal communication. This can be used by working groups for efficiency in project management and also assists by enhancing productivity. Online forums can be made for the purpose of discussing key issues among employees of a company. In large organizations, intranets normally get managed by the IT or Human resource departments. An intranet website performs and appears just as any other website, the exception being that it has firewall behind it to differentiate authorized and unauthorized users. An intranet is a very helpful private or personal network, which naturally is not necessary in all organizations. Therefore, the management of a company should decide whether or not to implement an intranet. Although the benefits of this technology are evidently clear, it is not compulsory to have it in the organizational system. The architecture behind intranet can be conceptualized as integration of four major elements: corporate information services, intranet users, communication links and the web server. This paper is going to discuss in length problems related to the use of intranet with relation to learning and inspiration. It also tries to give suggestions on the various features organizations can build on their intranet (Phan 2002, p.26). All network concepts have disadvantages; by nature, risks associated with security come first. This does not only concern issues to do with software security but also how employees handle and manage their passwords and usernames. In some instances, passwords can be left on places where everybody can be able to see while other users tend to choose simpler passwords that can be easy to guess. Most companies are not well to do with this method or way of information and data sharing. While one of the major purposes of intranet can be to enhance file sharing and communication in an organization, some employees might be frustrated since they might not be comfortable with the technology. The use of intranet technology also changes the work culture of an organization. Executives mostly in the top level management will get into the habit of delegating the duty of handling information and mails. The practice of sharing passwords and other vital company information could be fatal and so it could be necessary to respond to security threat posed by this. Another major setback brought about by the use of intranet is the level of reduced face to face interaction by employees. As the human interface gets reduced, the lack of bonding between parties can lead to loyalty issues and stamp down learning rapidly. This poses a great danger as it leads to impersonalization of the business. The complexity of the network system to employees also can inhibit learning and inspiration. Employees can view it to be very difficult to understand and use and so, not use it to its maximization. The network system can make employees feel overburdened by the amount of information and data it contains (Phan 2002, p.27). There are numerous features that could be added to an intranet network to aid learning and inspiration to users. Some of them include: Personalization and Segmentation: Bad user adoption can be mentioned as the major reason why intranet network projects fail. User experience can be an increase by tailoring content to meet user needs and also communicating in a more personal way. For increased user interface, a company should personalize content according to office location, department, specific personal or professional interests, job role or type, or even how actively engaged they are on social media websites. Making employees’ experience of the intranet more personal promotes engagement and can tighten company culture (Phan 2002, p.27). Lead Scoring: By evaluating employee activities such as contributing comments to blogs, answering FAQs, or even writing new blog posts, companies can encourage usage by employees making them contribute to the intranet. A public reward such as rank, badges or reward charts can enhance adoption further. Mobile Devices: As mobile technology continues to outdo desktop traffic for public sites, businesses should consider including mobile technology support to their intranets. This enhances employee convenience and deeper engagement, although security implications and threats may be a huge restraint for internal sites. A/B and MVT Testing: The main intention of any website is to sell, regardless of whether it can be services, products or information. Intranets are not different in this regard. Continue to fine tune a page with the aim to increase conversion rates like sharing of information and reading sells the information to many employees. In any case, what can be commonly known to be the main cause of frustration to customers can be uninformed employees (Phan 2002, p.29). I-Space framework is a conceptual framework developed by Boisot in the year 1995 – 1998. The concept tries to relate the level of structure knowledge to its ease in diffusing it as that knowledge develops. There exists two categories of knowledge here tacit knowledge and Codified and abstract knowledge. Tacit knowledge flows in a very slow manner between agents and frequently in only face to face scenarios. Codified and abstract knowledge on the contrary can diffuse quickly thought a population whether it gets was desired or not. The concept helps the study of how knowledge flows in diverse agents, individuals, industries and even organization. It assists management understand how knowledge can be generated, and diffused making them make better decisions aid the use of intranet (Phan 2002, p.31. When managers use this concept to evaluate employee knowledge they are able to build intranet technology that is user friendly. This increases user learning capability and inspiration resulting in improved productivity and thereby profiting the organization. Big companies most of them engineering relies on the above concept to evaluate transfer of knowledge. It draws proper guidelines to understanding knowledge agents’ conditions to aid in their learning and interaction. Managers from Alstom, a French engineering firm that manufactured and designed the French high speed train used the concept to map out the important technologies of the train and their independence. This is to allow them identify which train to release to a strategic client with respect to technology transfer project. Dreyfus model of skill acquisition is also a concept that can be used. Developed in the year 1980 by Stuart and Hubert the model suggests five stages of acquiring skills; Novice stage- this stage gets concerned with following rules and also modification of rules. All the energy at this stage gets focused at following rules rather than thinking. Advanced beginner stage- this stage can still be ruled based but now on situations. Here, rules are not blindly followed rather some situations require thinking. Competent stage – At this stage one realizes that performing a certain skill is more than just following rules. At this point, one realizes that rules are not perfect but just guides. Proficient stage – Here one starts to think in the context of a full picture and development of perspective about one's area of skill. Lastly expert stage is the stage that allows one to take action without being conscious of one’s skill. This model can be used in various fields in developing instruction material used for training new skills (Phan 2002, p.34). An intranet is a very useful network technology: however, not all organizations require it. Therefore, the management of a company should decide whether or not to implement an intranet technology. Having looked at how the technology tends to limit user learning and inspiration, its important that the management builds interactive features in their intranet to help in employee learning. References List Phan, P. H. (2002). Technological entrepreneurship, Greenwich, Conn, Information Age Pub. Pp.25-42. Read More