On the ball thanks to new media channels
Publishing: Electronic media have advantages that should be leveraged.
Publishing Electronic media have advantages that need to be exploited, and there is hardly any other medium of internal communication that is better suited to keeping employees up to date quickly, directly and simultaneously on important changes and news than the electronic internal newsletter. Abraxas Informatik AG, a leading IT service provider for public administrations, has recognized this and is making targeted use of this tool. A qualitative survey provided clarity about the needs and expectations of employees and managers in the area of internal communication. On this basis, a package of measures was developed, ranging from internal communication principles and management communication to the development of a coordinated internal media infrastructure.the electronic internal newsletter was the first medium to be realized, as it could be implemented quickly and cost-effectively and could be excellently linked with other internal communication measures. From the outset, abraxas.update pursued the ambitious goal of achieving a quality standard on a par with external newsletters. This was achieved through thematically concise and relevant texts as well as a reader-friendly design with dialog boxes. The reader-friendliness of the newsletter is ensured by short texts and personal, simple language. The personalized approach and the introduction at the beginning, including a personal signature and portrait of the author, support this. Short surveys, competitions and feedback buttons also initiate a dialog between company management and employees. Finally, links and shortcuts lead to additional information and thus allow the interlinking with other internal and external means of communication.
The design of abraxas.update decisively supports reader guidance. The newsletter header, together with the feedback and contact information at the end, forms a visual bracket. Thematic images in the margin create additional entry points into the text for the reader and convey a modern, future-oriented IT service company through their visual language. Dialog boxes, which are set apart from the main text in terms of design, round off the innovative design concept of the medium.
The fact that the newsletter makes a significant contribution to internal corporate communication was impressively demonstrated when the cooperation between Abraxas AG and Bedag AG was announced. Here, abraxas.update was used as a key instrument of internal communication and guaranteed that employees were quickly and comprehensively informed. They were personally informed about the collaboration in the employee information shortly afterwards. Finally, an information package handed out at the employee information meeting ensured that the employees' increased need for information was met on the day of the announcement.
The first step now is to maintain and improve the quality standard achieved by fine-tuning the content and continuously coordinating the electronic newsletter with other internal media. Abraxas AG has understood that external partners - whether in conceptual work, editorial, design or technical implementation - can make a significant contribution to the success of such a project.
Pro Infirmis networks its offices on the intranetThe intranet is also central to the information needs of employees. Be it messages, rules, memos, important documents or forms: This is where employees can find comprehensive information on topics relevant to them. Pro Infirmis was faced with the particular challenge of facilitating the flow of information from the head office to the 20 or so cantonal offices and the exchange of information between them. Another challenge was the multilingualism of Switzerland's largest disability organization. Thanks to an interdisciplinary team of internal and external specialists, the task was mastered.
At the heart of the Pro Infirmis intranet are the cantonal offices, which are characterized by a high degree of independence.
The resulting "intranets on the intranet" make it possible to compare the various offices' services. In a first step, a pilot project was implemented for the office of the Canton of Berne, as this office was a good example for the other cantons due to its size and bilingualism. They were able to adopt the menu structure as well as the content of the introductory texts for their own canton or adapt them individually and even set their own priorities.
The primary aim of the design was to ensure good clarity through a simple, straightforward structure. In terms of imagery, the design is based on the current advertising campaign and thus guarantees a strong recognition effect. The homepage with its clearly structured text provides information about news from the organization. The menu overview provides immediate clarity and makes subsequent navigation easier for the user, while the practical search function and the future option of a personalized menu bar further enhance user-friendliness. The sections of the individual cantons are structured in such a way that the content you are looking for can be found quickly and easily. In the content section, short, concise introductory texts precede the documents to be called up. The Pro Infirmis intranet is not designed as a mere storage area for documents - users can access further, thematically related content directly via links. In this way, users can find specific tools in the shortest possible time.
Two successful waysThe Abraxas newsletter and the Pro Infirmis intranet are successful examples of how electronic media can be used with the support of external partners.
can fundamentally optimize corporate communication. The focus is on a professional orientation towards the needs of users, both in terms of content and design. Especially in companies with complex organizations, appealing newsletters and intelligently designed intranet platforms can sustainably improve the flow of information.
Facts & Figures abraxas.updateThe electronic newsletter abraxas.update is published irregularly, approximately once or twice a month.
Sent electronically via Outlook to 300 employees of Abraxas Informatik AG.
Language: German
Concept, editing and design: m/& AG, Zurich, www.m-und.ch
Technical implementation: vertical vision AG, Kloten, www.vertical.ch
Facts & Figures Pro InfirmisThe Pro Infirmis intranet is the central information platform for around 20 cantonal offices
Languages: German, French, Italian
Concept, editing and design: m/& AG, Zurich, www.m-und.ch
Technical implementation: Juleg GmbH, Zurich
www.juleg.ch
Philipp Bircher/Philip Meier, m/& AG
The design of abraxas.update decisively supports reader guidance. The newsletter header, together with the feedback and contact information at the end, forms a visual bracket. Thematic images in the margin create additional entry points into the text for the reader and convey a modern, future-oriented IT service company through their visual language. Dialog boxes, which are set apart from the main text in terms of design, round off the innovative design concept of the medium.
The fact that the newsletter makes a significant contribution to internal corporate communication was impressively demonstrated when the cooperation between Abraxas AG and Bedag AG was announced. Here, abraxas.update was used as a key instrument of internal communication and guaranteed that employees were quickly and comprehensively informed. They were personally informed about the collaboration in the employee information shortly afterwards. Finally, an information package handed out at the employee information meeting ensured that the employees' increased need for information was met on the day of the announcement.
The first step now is to maintain and improve the quality standard achieved by fine-tuning the content and continuously coordinating the electronic newsletter with other internal media. Abraxas AG has understood that external partners - whether in conceptual work, editorial, design or technical implementation - can make a significant contribution to the success of such a project.
Pro Infirmis networks its offices on the intranetThe intranet is also central to the information needs of employees. Be it messages, rules, memos, important documents or forms: This is where employees can find comprehensive information on topics relevant to them. Pro Infirmis was faced with the particular challenge of facilitating the flow of information from the head office to the 20 or so cantonal offices and the exchange of information between them. Another challenge was the multilingualism of Switzerland's largest disability organization. Thanks to an interdisciplinary team of internal and external specialists, the task was mastered.
At the heart of the Pro Infirmis intranet are the cantonal offices, which are characterized by a high degree of independence.
The resulting "intranets on the intranet" make it possible to compare the various offices' services. In a first step, a pilot project was implemented for the office of the Canton of Berne, as this office was a good example for the other cantons due to its size and bilingualism. They were able to adopt the menu structure as well as the content of the introductory texts for their own canton or adapt them individually and even set their own priorities.
The primary aim of the design was to ensure good clarity through a simple, straightforward structure. In terms of imagery, the design is based on the current advertising campaign and thus guarantees a strong recognition effect. The homepage with its clearly structured text provides information about news from the organization. The menu overview provides immediate clarity and makes subsequent navigation easier for the user, while the practical search function and the future option of a personalized menu bar further enhance user-friendliness. The sections of the individual cantons are structured in such a way that the content you are looking for can be found quickly and easily. In the content section, short, concise introductory texts precede the documents to be called up. The Pro Infirmis intranet is not designed as a mere storage area for documents - users can access further, thematically related content directly via links. In this way, users can find specific tools in the shortest possible time.
Two successful waysThe Abraxas newsletter and the Pro Infirmis intranet are successful examples of how electronic media can be used with the support of external partners.
can fundamentally optimize corporate communication. The focus is on a professional orientation towards the needs of users, both in terms of content and design. Especially in companies with complex organizations, appealing newsletters and intelligently designed intranet platforms can sustainably improve the flow of information.
Facts & Figures abraxas.updateThe electronic newsletter abraxas.update is published irregularly, approximately once or twice a month.
Sent electronically via Outlook to 300 employees of Abraxas Informatik AG.
Language: German
Concept, editing and design: m/& AG, Zurich, www.m-und.ch
Technical implementation: vertical vision AG, Kloten, www.vertical.ch
Facts & Figures Pro InfirmisThe Pro Infirmis intranet is the central information platform for around 20 cantonal offices
Languages: German, French, Italian
Concept, editing and design: m/& AG, Zurich, www.m-und.ch
Technical implementation: Juleg GmbH, Zurich
www.juleg.ch
Philipp Bircher/Philip Meier, m/& AG
