Study No. 2 [See an intranet demo - try the 'Forms', 'Bulletin Board' & 'How do I' pages ] Background: A large public sector department with approx. 600 staff is formed when a number of smaller units are merged. Some of the potential problems areas anticipated in the new structure are communications, administration and performance measurement. Option 1: Continue with the arrangements in place prior to the merger, selecting aspects of best practice for application throughout. Communications - periodic departmental board meetings and circulation of briefing papers as and when appropriate. Administration - procedures based on hardcopy documentation / forms. Performance measurement - hardcopy annual assessment forms, with manual collation and analysis carried out centrally. Advantages: No real changes for existing staff to deal with. Disadvantages: Circulation mechanisms slow and unreliable, high costs of long-term generation of hardcopy material, document handling involves much duplication of effort and high clerical / support staff numbers required. Option 2: Introduce intranet system to provide centrally managed network facilities for all staff. Communications - messages/bulletins distributed to all staff via email system, with archived and general information available for searching. Administration - procedures based on on-line documentation / forms, with appropriate operational instructions available on the intranet. Performance measurement - assessment forms completed on-line, data posted automatically to database for analysis. Advantages: Circulation mechanisms speedy and reliable, very low costs associated with administration, minimal duplication of effort in form / data handling, easy mechanism available for performance data analysis, reduction in clerical / support staff numbers possible. Disadvantages: Staff need to familiarise themselves with use of intranet, some computational upgrades necessary, some specialist staff needed to manage intranet. [See an intranet demonstration, try the 'Forms', 'Bulletin Board' & 'How do I' pages ] Outcome: Option 2 selected and appropriate systems / staff put in place - intranet application continues to be extended across a variety of areas. Efficiency improved and considerable cost savings demonstrated long-term.