This interface design project explores user experience and company culture within the design, research, organization, and development of a company intranet. Research suggests that an organizations intranet works as a tool to both contribute to and strengthen culture. It provides organization, communication, knowledge, identification and acknowledgement of successes. It’s that first tool that each new employee is exposed to, and to which they will form their knowledge of the organization from. Equally it’s that tool that long-standing employees will use to continue to grow and learn with throughout their career. (Interact). My challenge was to research and develop knowledge from varying departments to learn how each department uses the current system. I needed to understand what was working well, the challenges that exist, and how the existing system could benefit and contribute to a healthier culture.

My discovery process included research into intranet design, interface design, and UI communication. I developed and distributed a survey to groups of employees from varying departments (editors, designers, production editors, sales support, contract workers, etc.) and I conducted interviews from select respondents to gain additional clarity. I then combined and reviewed these results to bundle ideas, and knowledge into categories which helped to define and shape the design form.

Research revealed that, while users were part of a larger corporation, they additionally found it important to have access to information specific to their local organization. Users were overall dissatisfied with the interface ease of use, and their ability to find important information both locally and globally. For example: product and service definitions, local calendar of events, reports, sales information, team knowledge, colleague contact information and organizational charts, colleague project involvement, and workflows. Further interviews and observation found that multiple resources for corporate communication and standardization of product and file naming conventions made it challenging to communicate and locate information effectively. Users also desired to engage with colleagues through recognition and/or acknowledgements. They liked the ability to have access from anywhere, and the ability to customize, and to add information.

This interface development organizes information with constraint. It includes the user’s ability to customize information based on their unique preferences. The design combines globally accessed information into intuitive, natural, and friendly categories, all under one interface. I utilized familiar UI elements, color, and navigation to communicate to the user the interface intent in a simplified manner. Finally, the user is able to engage and acknowledge colleagues all while learning about the company products and services. All of these areas contributing to a healthy culture.

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References

Berry, Louise. “Can an intranet improve your company culture?” Interact, https://www.interact-intranet.com/blog/can-an-intranet-improve-your-company-culture/. Accessed 31 March 2020.

Hall, Becki. “Advantages of an Internet?” Interact, https://www.interact-intranet.com/blog/advantages-of-an-intranet/. Accessed 13 April 2020.

McKay, Everett N. (2013). UI is Communication [eBook edition]. Morgan Kaufmann. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/9780123969804/ui-is-communication#book-info

Nielsen, Jakob. “Usability 101: Introduction to Usability” NN/g Nielsen Norman Group, https://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-101-introduction-to-usability/. Accessed 31 March 2020.

Nielsen, Jakob. “Intranet users stuck at low productivity” NN/g Nielsen Norman Group, https://www.nngroup.com/articles/intranet-users-stuck-low-productivity/. Accessed 31 March 2020.