IMPORTANCE OF INTERNET IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATION

An Internet: can be defined as the connected network of computers all over the world which operates on a standard protocol and allow data to be transferred between computers.  It is a communication network which bridges all the small computer networks worldwide as a whole. Bernard (1996)

The internet transmit data from one computer (host) to other computers, individuals and organizations get access to the internet from internet service providers (ISP) like Google, EarthLink, and fios.  Levine &Baroud (1993) 

Corporate communication: corporate come from the  Latin word “corpus” which means “body” therefore corporate communication can be defined as the set of activities involved in managing and arranging all internal and external communication aiming at creating favourable starting point with the stake holders on which the company depends. Riel and fombum (2007)

Due to technology development the work of corporate communication managers has been performed differently from the previous years, currently information can be communicated to the stakeholders so fast and at any moment because digital age eliminates space barrier and make the information to be on everyone’s finger tips.     

Importance of intranet.

Inexpensive: Installing an intranet does not require expensive equipments. Since an Intranet uses the same software and network equipment as the Internet, and speaks the same computer language as the Internet, organizations already with access to the internet may already have much of the hardware and software, hence easier the work of communication personnel.

Increases Efficiency: The intranet can increase efficiency within an organization by reducing the amount of time an employee spends in searching for policies, procedures, and reports. In addition, an intranet can help the corporate communication manager in sharing information to the target stakeholders, either internally or externally.

Flexibility and versatility: Since the Intranet is simply the application of Internet technology to a private network, it has the flexibility and versatility of the Internet. It can connect a variety of computer formats and offer access to the information using one common interface. Therefore, an organization is not tied to a particular vendor or a specific software.

Ease of Use: This is the single most factor for the success of a corporate information network. This factor has influenced the popularity of intranets as the ease of use since navigation through the information is simplified using hypertext links rather than traditional linear methods. Therefore any person can click the link and get access to the information available over the website or blog of the organization.      

It can increase customer satisfaction: The benefit of the internet is that it can be accessed from any computer at any time of the day.  This means that clients and customers can upload documents, ask questions or comment on anything posted relating to the organization.  Customer satisfaction can be reached when the organization work on the comments and desires of the customers suggested on the blog, website, e-mails or social media account of the organization.

Also internet can save time and cost: due to the advancement of technology businesses are done on line (e-marketing) in which people order the products over the internet, within and outside the country, due to this many business men have saved time and cost which could be used to travel for business shopping as the result the time and fund wasted has been invested on other issues.  On the side of corporate communication managers has been able to reduce expenses used in advertising, instead they use social media which is more cheap compare to advertising.

In conclusion, despite great contribution of intranet in easer  the work of corporate communication personnel there are various challenges  faced  in this system  among of them are  lack of training to some internal stakeholders, issues of maintenance, organization infrastructure, problem of internet access and the issues of security.

BY CHAMI FRIDA, A

BAPRM 42690