Managing intranets to encourage knowledge sharing: opportunities and constraints

Intranets are frequently promoted as a route towards the sharing of knowledge in organisations. Experience demonstrates, however, that many intranets were launched without clear objectives or strategy and have evolved in an ad hoc manner, resulting in systems with limited relevance. This article is in two parts. Drawing on data collected through a survey of the use of intranets in several corporations and international organisations, the first section provides an overview on how intranets are currently being used. The second part discusses good management practices for the development of effective intranets which stimulate knowledge sharing and the role they could play in facilitating knowledge management initiatives.