Challenge

Knight Ridder is the United States' second-largest newspaper publisher, with products in print and online. The company publishes 31 daily newspapers in 28 U.S. markets. The Leadership Development Review (LDR) is a complex processes where executive staff at each paper are evaluated and targeted for management positions throughout the company. Corporate HR executives saw an opportunity to make this process more effective by storing LDR information centrally in a Web accessible database and distributing the data entry and review processes.

Solution

The Igneous Group worked closely with Knight Ridder to identify the existing processes and apply them to the Web. Through several meetings, The Igneous Group helped identify which tasks were critical to the process and how they could be performed more efficiently using the Web.

Results

The LDR Web site has been in use at Knight Ridder for six years--managed, part-time, by a single administrative staff person.

The LDR Web site successfully automates a highly complex process. The site uses role-based security to ensure that users only see the tasks that are assigned to them at a specific phase in the process. The site provides for group scheduling of review meetings and online collaboration during reviews. Automated reminders let participants know when their tasks are scheduled.

The LDR site includes a complete site administration section where key users can add participants, change roles, and update forms. In addition, the site provides context-sensitive online Help and a printed User Guide.