InsideTheCBC.com » iO! intranet

First look at the new “iO” intranet

Those management appointment notices, corporate news releases, and policy announcements that flow into your Groupwise will be cut by about 80% when the CBC’s new intranet launches shortly.

Two years in the making, the new intranet — named iO! — will feature “role-based personalization.” This means that the site will automatically detect what media- or business-line you work in and which region you’re in. Relevant information will then bubble up to the front page.

Here is your first glimpse at the CBC’s new employee intranet which will launch soon — really soon {ahem} :-).

“I’m hoping there’s a big dropoff [when it launches] on emails from English services, corporate communications, French communications,” said CBC communications executive Kevin Payan told InsideTheCBC.com. “We want to take stuff out of Groupwise, start using the portal, and reinvigorate what’s going on with a fresh tone and fresh style, as opposed to the traditional executive memo.”

The CBC has hired an editorial director for the intranet who will re-write, in a more “human” tone, news releases and policy announcements from the CBC.

In time, individual users will be able to customize the page at a much more granular level.
“It’ll help you get through the reams of information coming into Groupwise mailboxes right now. You’ll get to pick what bubbles up,” said Angela Wissink, director of CBC portal services.

As well, the site will have some limited feedback ability. Employees will be encouraged to email in comments and feedback, and the intranet’s editorial director will republish a summary of comments received.

In time, the portal may supplant this blog, but for now InsideTheCBC.com will stay as is, says CBC’s vice-president of communications, Bill Chambers. “The blog is free-flowing, agenda-free. It’s as broadly based as the CBC. I see the portal and the blog as complimentary.” Stories from the blog will appear on the front page of iO!

When it launches, iO! will become the default page on all CBC web browsers (which, sadly, still languish at IE6).

(Incidentally, although the site is an intranet, in CBC-language it will be referred to as a “portal.” Because that’s the way we roll.)