In at least 3 orgs I have worked at SharePoint has been massively slow to take hold. IT installed it on the request of senior mgmt, but not involved staff. Come go live day staff think what the hell!
what ways can you recommend to better prepare and train and involve staff so they embrace SP ?
I think one of the most neglected aspects of a SharePoint implementation is end user usability trials or testing.
Whether you are building an intranet, a document management system or using SharePoint as building blocks for a full line of business system it is very rare to see companies engaging the end users as to what will work for them. Trying out ideas and ensuring they get early buy in.
If you were building a new fancy external website then it would be fairly common for the digital agencies to engage users to understand whether what they are building “works” for them.
Much less common in enterprises with SharePoint. What usually happens is that a product owner or business visionary drives the design but often that person already has a lot of experience with SharePoint. Same with the developers obviously. Aspects that seem “obvious” to these guys are far from obvious to an end user who has never used a SharePoint site before.
Just stubled over this old launch video for Vancity on twitter – remeber it is good to let people know what they can expect 🙂
Thanks guys 🙂  Mark this is really great.  I like how what once was a one person band job has turned into so many different tracks as companies are beginning to appreciate how much SharePoint does for their business and how much work is involved in each track.
Thanks for sharing this stuff and it is exactly my lessons learned also.
The business needs to be involved as soon as possible and presenting the possibilities/train small teams and make these ambassadors within the Company is a good attack plan.
Making sure that “SharePoint” is not the intranet name but a “brand” the intranet with something the users can easy remember and talk about is essential also. Do an internal marketing campaign – it really helps!
It can be quite expensive not to follow most of your points Stephen – good writeup!
Great points Stephen and thanks for responding.. Have you seen Ian McNeices new certification ? It’s advocating recognition of a new role called he SharePoint Business Strategist. It futs well with your thoughts about IT laying off and letting business drive it.
I believe it’s starting gain momentum now as the uptake the course is good. http://www.wasbs.org/
