And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn’t been for you meddling #SharePoint kids!
Author: Michael Hinckley
Today I got to sit through yet another boring efficiency consultant project milestone meeting, but SharePoint was on the agenda and I had to be there. Rumor had it that not only were they looking for efficiencies, they were also looking to push a Knowledge Management and Project tracking system.
http://frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/files/2008/08/scooby-doo.jpg
Based on this intel, I was expecting to have to justify SharePoint’s use and cost so I pulled up the executive summary of the governance plan, site usage numbers, training plans, the internal Power User program and all those “Good Stuff emails”.
In the meeting, once it got around to SharePoint, I was waiting for the bell: hands wrapped, gloves on, mouth piece in. Float like a butterfly sing like a bee, rumble SharePoint rumble.
Then the moderator announced that SharePoint was a non item and moved on the next bullet point. NON ITEM? When the meeting wrapped up I went straight to my manager and gave her a “what gives”?
I’ve worked hard, we as a department have worked hard, we have documented savings and successes and they cut us in favor of their solution? At least give me chance to go out on my shield.
Well fight and SharePoint fans my manager let me get it out of my system and then told me SharePoint was a non issue before it was even an issue.
HUH?
Apparently the consultants had previously asked for all things SharePoint for the department and since there was early buy in by the business, because it became a strategic goal, all those reports, plans and presentations were present and part of department vocabulary. They could not capitalize on the common SharePoint weakness; bad moral and lack of usage because of no planning, buy in and documentation.
They of course tried to push their solution but when you have paid for licenses already in house (I work for a global corporation) why purchase something new? Case closed, end of story, next?
Author: Michael Hinckley
After ten plus years of developing and managing e learning projects I have found myself in the unique position to drive the innovation at an enterprise level.
My current title is Instructor at Citibank, although training delivery is one aspect of what I do, most of my job and interests included knowledge and content management and how it can be effectively distributed. This path has led me to SharePoint technologies as the medium to deliver customized “just in time training” and knowledge solutions.
When I am not tinkering under my MOSS sites hoods and bothering the IT department regarding admin level permissions you’ll find me either at home relaxing with my wonderful wife and three children or at my boxing gym trying to improve my “sweet science” despite the science of gravity and advancing years.
Sorry, I don’t get it.
I really wanted to get it – but no dice.
Very confusing.
Could you use some clearer language? I’m with George — I don’t know what your point is or even what took place.
I think (and I stress THINK here) the author is making the point that because the implementation was well planned, there were reports and metrics on usage, training, governance etc… there was nothing for anyone to complain about as related to their SharePoint implementation so it was considered a non-issue.
That being said I could be wrong, just my interpretation.
- Jay
That was my interpretation as well, but it did take another read to get it. Michael was expecting the consultants to bash Sharepoint, but because of the proper planning, and metrics, it sounds like they had no foothold to even mention another solution. Congrats Michael sounds like a perfectly executed deployment.
I’m confused too. Did they use SharEPoint for this solution of not?
I’m going to ping Mike and ask for clarification on all this. — Mark
Both Jay and Kerri pulled out the quick meaning of this post. I only realized that the short set up paragraph (case bio) was excluded after I saw the comments. I imagine Twitter writing is to blame, apologies to all. This would have set the scene better and the defeated consultants’ quote/ title would have ended on a better note.
Apologies for the minor lack of clarity, but I would like to point out that especially in large organizations system/applications can be brought under scrutiny at a moment’s notice. The only defense for that is having all pieces in place I described: governance, training and organization strategy. I know I am seeing a trend of consultants invading Financial Services now that signify (hopefully) the worst of times have passed. And while there are many amends that need to be made in that industry it should not replace what has efficiently road out the recession quite nicely in my world, SharePoint.