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Archive for the ‘Strategy’ Category

I have been involved in implementing content management technology since 1993. SharePoint has rapidly democratized electronic document management, collaboration, web content management, portal and many other content technology. It is impressive to see the number of blog, website and conference that are focusing on the SharePoint technology.

But the reality is that the SharePoint technology represents only 25% of your project. The implementation of a SharePoint solution consists of the following:

1. SharePoint software; 15%

2. Information architecture; 25%

3. Solution architecture; 25%

4. Infrastructure hardware; 5%

5. Training; 5%

6. Change management and communications strategy. 25%

Point 6 is the one most often neglected. We forget too often that a SharePoint implementation is the introduction of new working way that impact directly your users.

Imagine if I knocked on your door at home, and tell you how you should organize your garage based on my methodology?

You did organize your garage your way for twenty (20) years and I would be surprised that you would agree to change it quickly, even if you think I’m right.

The success of your implementation is intimately connected to the adherence of your user to embrace the usage of your application. Over 30% of your efforts should be devoted to develop a strategy for managing change within your organization. Here are some recommendations that are simple application, but effective:

1. Target your internal customers: Make sure you involve your users early in the needs analysis and seek for cohesion.

2. Communication Plan: A communication plan allowing all impacted users by the implementation will help them to take a step by step approach to accept changes. Users will have the opportunity to share ideas in the cafeteria, coffee break and their respective office allowing them to give feedback to the implementation team. Make sure you have a place to allow feedback from users: Ideas of the week! Proposed improvements! Etc …

3. Training: Training will be an opportunity for interaction between users and potentially bring or suggest improvements to the application. The training team must be intimately related to the implementation team of the application in order to influence the improvements suggested by users.

This is not an exhaustive list, but I wanted to make you aware that the change management when you implement a SharePoint solution is the cornerstone of your success.

The idea of this article came to me with the advent of SharePoint Foundation and SharePoint 2010 which will have a far greater impact on your users compare to SharePoint 2007. The new interface of SharePoint 2010 worried many SharePoint experts, since it requires greater adaptation, especially if you still on Office 2003.

Good day in-a-box, and hope to see you at SharePoint Summit 2010 in Montreal