A housing association has used Microsoft SharePoint
Server to manage its internal and external internet sites and
improve information flow.
Leicester Housing Association and ASRA Greater London formed an
alliance with Nottingham-based organisation Family First Group to
become the LHA-ASRA Group and its internet site went live in May
this year. It is currently rolling out separate sites for the
divisions of the organisation, as well as an intranet for staff and
an extranet with forums and document sharing for key stakeholders
and tenants' representatives.
Application developer Michael Mayer said, "The main benefits of
Microsoft Sharepoint Server are that it integrates well with the
other applications we have, like the Office suite.
"It also enables better sharing of information."
He said the new system had taken the pressure off the IT
department.
"The IT department was heavily involved in keeping the websites
and intranet running and collecting information. We are not
designers or journalists, so we were not really the right people to
do that. We should just be empowering other people to do it. With
the new technology, employees can easily log in and change
information."
Phase one is complete after
www.lha-asra.org.uk went live in
May. In phase two, as the intranet is completed, the housing
association will be able to enjoy comprehensive internal document
and workflow management and collaboration via intranet and extranet
sites.
Mayer said, "The idea was to put together a group site, then
launch separate company branded sites. We hope to roll out the
second phase by September."