Search, And Failure Of 'Consumer Effect'Search, And Failure Of 'Consumer Effect'

We've written a lot about the consumer effect, how employees fall in love with consumer tech like iPhones and instant messaging, then demand the same experience at work. So why has this effect failed to drive enterprise search?

Chris Murphy, Editor, information

November 9, 2009

1 Min Read
information logo in a gray background | information

We've written a lot about the consumer effect, how employees fall in love with consumer tech like iPhones and instant messaging, then demand the same experience at work. So why has this effect failed to drive enterprise search?Our cover story this week asks "What's Wrong With Search?" Our research finds that less than 2% of respondents have enterprise search that combs multiple data silos in our companies. The article blames policies and privacy fears, not technology, which information contributor Michael Healey says is up to the job. It also prices out a scenario of Google or Microsoft enterprise systems. Healey argues strongly for enterprise search improving productivity, especially as companies cut staff and ask employees to do more:

Getting search technology implemented--and used--is a great way to improve productivity. If your organization has endured layoffs, remaining staffers are as eager as they'll ever be to adopt search. Chances are, they've already felt the pain of looking for information that was in the head-or the e-mail store-of a colleague who was let go. Time to throw them a lifeline.

Why aren't employees screaming for this? Perhaps consumer versions of tools like desktop search aren't that great, so people can't picture how effective in-house search could help them. Let us know what you think.

Read more about:

20092009

About the Author

Chris Murphy

Editor, information

Chris Murphy is editor of information and co-chair of the information Conference. He has been covering technology leadership and CIO strategy issues for information since 1999. Before that, he was editor of the Budapest Business Journal, a business newspaper in Hungary; and a daily newspaper reporter in Michigan, where he covered everything from crime to the car industry. Murphy studied economics and journalism at Michigan State University, has an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia, and has passed the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams.

Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.

You May Also Like


More Insights