Drupal - Standardizing Our Intranet Sites
Updated July 28, 2016
Drupal - Standardizing Our Intranet Sites
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Drupal
Drupal was the software used to create many of our organization's intranet sites. It was used across the majority of the organization. Each operating unit used it to create sites that conveyed who they were, the work they did, and other basic information. We used it so the operating units' sites would be uniform in their look and feel. Consequently, information would be be found in predictable locations across the operating unit sites.
Pros
- You don't need to be a developer to use Drupal. You just need to learn its functions.
- We were able to train people with various non-computer backgrounds to use Drupal. It can be learned by a range of people who are not "technical".
- Drupal sites can include APIs, webforms, slideshows, parent and child pages, and more.
Cons
- The option to compare older site page versions with the current version could be easier to decipher from a visual standpoint.
- It would be great if the various customizable features included descriptions of how they function for the many non-technical users who work on Drupal.
- It can be tough for users to find previously added slides (in the slideshow carousel) to edit them.
- The various operating unit sites are now fairly uniform. When you go from one site to another it is fairly easy to find information.
- Employees who want fancier options with their intranet sites were disappointed with the Drupal user interface.
- Employees now know where to go to access predictable information regarding the different operating units.
- Google Sites
I was not a decision maker when it came to which software we would use. There are pros and cons to any software. I would have preferred to use Google Sites, especially since the organization uses Google Drive and its related products pretty heavily. I see great value in sticking with fewer systems and platforms to minimize employee confusion and frustration.
Drupal Feature Ratings
Using Drupal
Various operating units and departments use Drupal for a number of reasons. Human Resources uses it to provide HR related information and resources for employees agency-wide. Other operating units use it to provide articles with the latest information on their work and success stories. In general, it is used to provide information for employees about what each operating unit does, who their leadership is and how to contact each operating unit.
At the very least, some basic web design knowledge is helpful if someone is to truly support users of Drupal. More advanced knowledge of web design is more desirable, since our users had more in-depth questions about what they can and cannot do with their Drupal sites. They often wanted help implementing more advanced features.
- Inform employees about each operating unit.
- Uniform communication tool to present information about each operating unit.
- Tool for providing resources to help employees with their work.
- More features may be added / allowed in the future, but I'm not sure what they are at this point.
Drupal Training
- Online training
- In-person training
- Self-taught
If the learner was technically savvy and had a background in website development then the platform could be learned fairly easily. If the learners were not technically savvy, they needed training and continued support after their initial training session. We found that the non-technical learners often contacted us after their initial training with items that may or may not have been addressed in training.
Using Drupal
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Convenient Feel confident using | None |
- Adding a basic page.
- Adding a slide.
- Adding content in the rich text editor on a basic page.
- Finding a slide to edit after you have created it can be challenging for a new, less technical user.
- Comparing older and newer versions of a page is not as intuitive as I would have liked.
- Webform creation is a two part process that can confuse the new, less technical user.
Comments
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