The secrets of a successful extranet

The first article in this series, Using an extranet with your clients looked at how an extranet can add value to a relationship, and some of the associated issues.   In this second article Stephen Bynghall explains what is needed to make a specific site succeed, and how the digital workplace may evolve.

Why sites sometimes fail
Often setting up a site between two different organisations is the easy bit. Getting it to succeed – by being used and adding value - is harder. 

Sometimes an extranet is set-up for a new client or for a tender, and either it never gets off the ground or fizzles out.

Sometimes sites which support existing relationships may suffer from a lack of buy-in. There may be confusion over what a site is actually going to be used for.  Or sometimes the technology is simply not good enough.

The three Rs
You can minimise the chances of a site not succeeding by ensuring the three Rs are in place.

These are:

• Rationale: Ensuring there is a convincing reason to use the site
• Roles: Ensuring the right people are involved
• Rules of engagement:  Ensuring everybody understands the basic small print and what they need to do.

Continued...