Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Sharing knowledge to communicate more effectively: rethinking the UNs intranet Linda Stoddart Head, Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Chair, UN Task Force on Knowledge Sharing

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Investing in the UN Creating One UN Adapting to a new reality Management reform Innovation and change

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Moving from talking to doing: peacekeeping

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Moving from talking to doing: humanitarian relief

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 iSeek Strategy iSeek was developed to support the UN Secretariat global knowledge sharing and internal communications strategy. Knowledge sharing is about: –Collaborating –Communicating –Connecting

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 The UN Secretariat Culture Hierarchy culture: decisions taken at senior levels Junior staff often not part of the decision-making channel – resulting in lack of a sense of responsibility Staff often work in silos Little collaborative work

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Use of Information & Knowledge in Decision-Making Considerations –Low use of print publications –Medium use of electronic data –High use of news sources and direct contacts

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Blend of Internal and External Very high amount of public information on iSeek – certain degree of overlap with UN.org Low awareness of need for specific internal approach High degree of external scrutiny

Web4Dev, UN, 2006

Internal Communications Objectives Bring everyone on the same page Ensure that iSeek is the primary source of information for UN Secretariat staff Involve and engage everyone

Web4Dev, UN, 2006

One intranet for one UN worldwide, with consistent layout, standard technology, providing relevant and consistent messages to reach staff everywhere

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 A "glocal" start page

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Internal Communications Objectives Bring everyone on the same page Ensure that iSeek is the primary source of information for UN Secretariat staff Involve and engage everyone

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 April: Global Contact Directory

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Internal Communications Objectives Bring everyone on the same page Ensure that iSeek is the primary source of information for UN Secretariat staff Involve and engage everyone

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Content Strategy Focus on creating compelling content, stories of interest to everyone, regardless of their duty station – Reform/Management – Staff issues/Policy Information – New Technology Tools – Interviews and Appointments – Morale Building stories

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Creating a community of content providers: Brought together content focal points at a workshop in New York: duty stations departments staff representatives individual staff members

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Assessing impact – Feedback (focal points would like to use blogs) – Surveys and polls – Usage statistics

Web4Dev, UN, 2006

Content – Timeliness – Clear, inviting, easy-to-use content – Photographs Technology – One platform for all locations Lessons learned: what works?

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Overly complicated approval process Not global enough Not enough content contributions from global partners Lessons learned: what doesn't work?

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Current challenges (human) A slow process Learn to work together Build trust Cultural change

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Current challenges (technology) Limitations of current content editor: – Inadequate search functionality – Limited menu-creating/management capacity – Hands-on training required Limitations of web analytics and collaboration tools

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Next Steps Short-term –Contributions from content focal points and contributors –Interim technical solutions for collaboration tools, available now, including open source applications Mid-term – Enterprise Information Portal

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 New Mind Set Need to understand the organizational culture and work within it to find realistic, pragmatic solutions to knowledge sharing Identify what this will mean for peoples daily routine

Web4Dev, UN, 2006 Thank you!