|Improved Process
Efficiency and Workflow|

The intranet has had a positive effect on workflow, according to survey results. More than 60 percent of survey respondents found the intranet to be an effective tool for streamlining workflow. This can be illustrated through the use and implementation of the Electronic Requisition System for the on-line generation, routing, and approval of non-manufacturing purchase requisitions. The Electronic Requisition System was developed over a one-year period to address cost reduction, cycle-time reduction, process automation, requisition tracking and approval routing, and an anticipated 53 percent increase in purchase orders. The electronic requisition system resulted in an 18 percent cycle time reduction for processing requisitions, a 25 percent reduction in the average purchase order processing costs and significant savings in paper requisition form costs. No additional resources were required to handle the increased transaction volume. Another example of process efficiency through the Silicon Graphics intranet is the New Employee System, a data capture and mail forwarding application that enables managers to order office space, services, communication, networking, and computer equipment for new employees. The study revealed that the process of ordering new services was reduced from approximately two hours to 15 minutes. Based on Human Resource hiring statistics of 100 new hires per month, this system could potentially save 2,100 man hours per year (see Figure 5).
Estimated Savings from New Employee System
(Figure 5)

|Increased
Employee Satisfaction|

Through the worldwide survey, we found that an overwhelming number of employees expressed improved job satisfaction. More than 60 percent of the respondents stated that the intranet is essential to their daily job functions. The intranet has also improved job satisfaction because of on-line availability of the most up-to-date corporate and competitive information. Of the survey respondents, the vast majority referred to the information on the intranet as timely, accurate, and relevant to their needs, resulting in increased empowerment through better decision-making.

Through the implementation of this relatively new technology, Silicon Graphics has successfully improved communication, teamwork, and workflow, and dramatically reduced costs. The rapid adoption and widespread use of the intranet in every area of the enterprise are testimony to its early success. The intranet at Silicon Graphics is now core to its organizational strategy and will continue to shape the way it does business.

The development of this study would not have been possible without the time and dedication of Silicon Graphics individuals who participated in this project. We sincerely appreciated their efforts. Our special thanks go to the management team of Silicon Graphics who helped facilitate this intranet study and provided the information necessary to complete the project.

Silicon Graphics is a leading supplier of high-performance visual and enterprise computing systems. The companyÕs products range from low-end desktop workstations to servers and high-end Cray¨ supercomputers. Silicon Graphics also markets MIPS¨ microprocessor designs, Alias|Wavefront entertainment software, and other software products. The companyÕs key markets include the World Wide Web, government, commercial, industrial, and entertainment sectors. Silicon Graphics and its subsidiaries have offices throughout the world and headquarters in Mountain View, California.