A HIGH-LEVEL APPROACH Succeeds...

Issue date: Jan. 27, 1997

When John Gerdelman put together a team to develop MCI's internal Internet strategy, he had a clear concept in mind. "We pulled all the players together, and I explained to them that this is the task, this is the vision," says Gerdelman, president of networkMCI Services, the computing and networking division of long-distance telecom carrier MCI in Washington.

The assignment was clear: Provide a robust connectivity infrastructure for all of MCI's networks. Gerdelman gathered business-unit directors from around the company. Their mission: To come up with a strategy to connect the 100-plus LANs to the Internet and put LANs that weren't linked--including networks in finance and human resources--on speaking terms.

Employees say the new intranet connectivity saves time and money. There's a "point-and-click benefits package that's always sitting right there if you want to look at it," notes Robert Hoskins, media-relations manager of networkMCI. Hoskins obtains information on his 401(k), stock plan, and health benefits without searching through 15 paper-bound books, playing phone tag, or "bugging five people to find the answer. It's all there in one place. You just look it up on the Web, get all the information, and print it out right from the page--and not have to talk to anyone."

Ensuring enterprisewide connectivity was a critical first step in winning management and user acceptance for MCI's intranets. "Some folks think you can stick a nice Web page with nice Java applets out there," says Gerdelman. "But if people aren't aw are of it, can't get to it, and don't use that information, all you have is an island with nice information."

...WHILE A LOW-LEVEL APPROACH Struggles

As a self-styled Internet evangelist, Wayne Lemmerhirt faces an uphill battle converting the non-believers among senior management to the faithful. "I'm an advocate for the Internet," says Lemmerhirt, manager of technology services with electric utility Boston Edison Co.

On top of traditional network service and support responsibilities, Lemmerhirt's group has established Boston Edison's on-line presence. The utility has two intranets that provide project-status reports in its IT and engineering departments, but Lemmerhirt wants to do more, such as allow customers to access account information over the Internet.

Lemmerhirt would like to convince high-level executives of the benefits of doing business on the Web. Unfortunately, a meeting with management in early November yielded few disciples. Lemmerhirt reports: "They're interested, but n ot ready to jump," due to concerns about privacy and security. A source close to the company adds: "Management has a lot of other pressing issues today. Officials there are a lot more concerned with surviving" due to deregulation and a loss of business to out-of-state utilities. Already a utility in the South has a contract to supply electricity to John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. buildings in the Boston metropolitan area.

Return to Web Careers Special Report Menu

Comments?

http://www.informationweek.com