For the first time in several years, I am not going to recommend buying the Neilson Norman Top Ten Intranets Report. Jacob Nielsen and his team have done a lot of good for intranet design and the usability profession too. I have a lot of personal respect for Jacob Neilson as well but I think this report can be better. Just by reading his 10 Best Intranets of 2007 alertbox, you will see why I have gotten turned off. Here are a few of the reasons.
I struggle with the methodology and some of the conclusions drawn in the report. As a PhD with a commendable track record of publications behind him, I would have thought that Jacob Neilson and his team would be more careful about some of the statements made. Apparently, because the buyers are mostly from the business world, the authors don't feel that intellectual rigour is necessary. And for most people maybe it isn't. But since the Nielsen Norman Group prides itself on its academic credentials, I had hoped for more from them.
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