ITadviser Autumn 2009 25
top ten tips
Top Ten Tips for
Implementing
Microsoft
SharePoint
SharePoint is a powerful product but a careful and
considered approach is needed for a successful
implementation. Ian Woodgate from PointBeyond
shares his top 10 tips to help your organisation
avoid some of the pitfalls commonly seen.
Choosing to implement SharePoint is a
forward-thinking business decision and
it should be introduced to your staff as a
positive new tool for the whole
company. It should have director level
endorsement and should be presented
as more than just a change to the IT
system; SharePoint has the capacity to
permanently change the way people
work for the better.
Seek advice and support from a
SharePoint expert. The initial setting up
and organisation of your solution is
vitally important as mistakes made here
can be expensive and time-intensive to
put right later on. First impressions
should not be underestimated, it is
crucial that SharePoint works correctly
from the first time that your users try it.
Create a strategy for user adoption �
make sure SharePoint is marketed to
your users enthusiastically, engage them
early, involve them in their site's
development, invest in training, and
cultivate `champions' within your
organisation.
Ensure user confidence from the outset.
`Findability' is essential. Users need to
be able to find the information they are
looking for swiftly from day one, in
order to feel secure using the product.
Navigation around the site should be
clear and easy; broken links and error
messages are extremely detrimental.
Allow your users to experiment with
prototypes and `sandbox' sites. This
engages users by letting them use the
system on a trial basis, so they can
discover what is possible in a relaxed,
informal way and learn how the system
can work to their advantage. Educate
your users to try things for themselves
using the sandbox but make it clear to
them that this is for `playtime' and not a
production environment.
The key to success in the long-term is a
gradual approach. As staff members
become accustomed to SharePoint they
will gain more confidence and start to
develop their own ideas about how the
product can best be utilised to the
benefit of the business.
Avoid customisation initially. Instead,
start with the `out of the box' product
and become familiar with it before
considering customising it for your
particular organisation's needs. A
straightforward approach will deliver
fast, effective results and `quick wins' for
your business.
Identify the `killer application' that will
deliver maximum benefit for your
organisation. This should be actively
promoted as the SharePoint application
to get to grips with first. A very useful
third party application is
Straightforward Timesheets by
PointBeyond, for further information
visit www.pointbeyond.com.
A holistic approach is crucial even if you
choose to roll out the system
department by department. Avoid
`reinventing the wheel' each time a new
team is introduced to the software;
identify and deliver the common
functionality only once.
Put a proper governance plan in
place. Empower users to make the
most of the product but keep an
appropriate degree of control so that
changes are made in a controlled,
structured way. Well-planned,
controlled, business led change should
be encouraged.
The author
Ian Woodgate, Managing Director, PointBeyond.

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