AGRO’s intranet is being brushed up
AGRO has for many years has a well functioning intranet, but now it is time to review the content and evaluate if it is still relevant and timely.
I have participated in one of Administration Centre ST’s skill development courses where the subject was 'Our digital workplace: The future belongs to the fearless'. It mainly concerned being curious about new digital initiatives. This, in combination with one of Piet Hein's Danish grooks that is hanging on my bulletin board and that says something along the lines of "The man with knowledge is great, but greater is the man who knows how and where to ask" has been a good entrance for the secretariet to set things in motion with regard to giving AGRO's intranet a brush up.
New things will appear and old things will disappear. The extent of digitalisation is on the rise and our young colleagues use the digital media much more than us older ones. We now have a Google generation on the way into our workplace. I am more the type who goes into the neighbouring office to ask, "What do we usually do?” but in order to accommodate our young colleagues we have initiated this brushing up process so we can all benefit from our intranet.
Facelift for our intranet
In AGRO we have for many years had a well functioning intranet, but now is the time to review the content and evaluate if it is still relevant and timely. We are presently taking a closer look at procedures, guidelines and so on and starting with what many are familiar with as ’AGRO ABC’.
Another important part of the intranet is the section containing news and reportages of common interest, and we do not intend to change that.
We all have a shared responsibility for following AGRO’s guidelines. The intention is that the intranet is the staff's daily work tool. The aim is that this is where you can find information about the department, project management, recruitment procedures, laboratory and field processes, IT and many other things.
One of the things we will simplify is the description of the department and its management, but we still think this is an important element to have on our intranet. The processes regarding project management, applications and finances will be adjusted so they are lasting.
New technology will be introduced
In addition to the above, we would like to expand the descriptions of the processes regarding planing of trials in the laboratory and field so that all guidelines can be seen by all, and not just by those who usually have the responsibility for them. The time might be ripe to introduce new technologies, including, for example, YouTube videos that show how to use apparatus and machines.
An example of a new thing the secretariat has been working on is getting an electronic form for recruitment and residence in the department. The contents of the form would be sent to the department management, all secretaries and project controllers since it is not possible to target smaller groups with the present tool. This form would ensure that all relevant staff are informed when a new staff member arrives in a section or other unit.
We need, of course, to find out if all procedures should be described, but you are welcome to contact one of the secretaries if you have something new to add. We will then discuss it because it is important that everyone gives input to the website.
It will be an ongoing process to update the intranet and we have not even started on the English section yet, but you can see our progress so far on a temporary site here. When the site goes public this page will become the home page.