SharePoint Thinking I

The following are some items to consider and think about in regard to SharePoint:

1)      Those users who have a negative perception of SharePoint – should be set to be positive by shifting them to understand that SharePoint can solve their problems.

2)      Evangelize and make it clear that SharePoint provides results – when users change their thinking.

3)      Be sure to listen to all users ideas.

4)      Be consistent in getting back to users in regard to their needs.

5)      Break requests into the proper pieces so they can be deployed over time and include proper review, testing and changes.

 

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SharePoint Agile Story Template

When using Agile and SharePoint, it’s important to utilize a simple template for a story. By having a template, it will help the development process of what is actually needed to be built. As an example, a template is as such:

FOR <customers>

WHO <need a piece of functionality>

THE <product>

IS A <product category>

THAT <key benefit>

UNLIKE <competition, alternative>

OUR PRODUCT <differentiating statement>

Filled in, this could be as such:

FOR <human resources department>

WHO <need a web-part to display frequently asked questions>

THE <frequently asked questions knowledgebase>

IS A <dropdown of choices of key departments>

THAT <are listed by category>

UNLIKE <the information technology web-part frequently asked questions>

OUR PRODUCT <will allow users ti pick the proper category then allow a response to the requestor via e-mail>

SharePoint Web Content Management

The following are some key steps to utilize in regard to web content management:

Step 1 – Create content with proper page layouts and image resources.

Step 2 – Have content approved/rejected via an approval process.

Step 3 – Schedule content as needed.

Step 4 – Have a start date and end date for published content. Once content is expired, it should be archived.

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5 Step Approach to a Metadata – Archive Policy

The following are the 5 steps needed to create a metadata based archive policy:

•      1) Create Content Syndication Content Types that originate from a Content Type Hub. These are housed in an Archive web application. Since these Archive Content Types are syndicated content types it means they can be used on different web applications, and site collections.

•      2) Each site created so that one can leverage an archive policy needs to have content types created and named appropriately:
Example:
Name of Site 1-Year
Name of Site 2-Year
Name of Site 3-Year

•      3) For each content type - create an Information Policy to a Content Type.

•      4) Make sure that the content organizer site feature is turned on so that metadata based rules that move content submitted to a library to the proper location are in place.

•      5) Set-up a workflow then for each site so that when a file meets the policy based on the content type, the site owner gets an e-mail:
Example: This document - [%Current Item:Name%] - has been moved to the Archive document library due to the expiration policy. Click here to view your files and return them from the archive site to your proper site.

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Communication of SharePoint Governance Plans

Communication of SharePoint governance standards and polices could follow a communications path as such:

Content

• Have a published governance policy and standards section available for all SharePoint users
• Governance Announcements: make sure they are always up to date as changes in regard to policies and initiatives are updated

Format

• Utilize a sectioned wiki of core and key information so that content can be easily referenced and linked to
• Utilize a blog with proper categories relevant to the areas of the governance that are to be posted

Timing

• Update content at least once a month to keep it fresh

Who

• The Farm SharePoint Administrators should be responsible for producing and updating the governance information and for communication
• Communication can be via formal e-mail communication, an announcement on the SharePoint site itself or via alerts that are set-up in SharePoint (by users or administrators)

SharePoint Top 4 Core Governance Risks

The following are 4 top risks to an effective SharePoint governance plan:

·         Obtaining proper support from the business leaders to enforce the proper governance

·         Site collection administrators and power users refusing to abide by the posted policies

·         Needed support and resources, especially budget is non-existent

·         By not following governance the old ways of management of content stray from usefulness and business value

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Top 10 Items to Include in a SharePoint Technology Guide

When installing SharePoint – be it on-premise or on-line, the following are some great items to include in a core technical guide. These items can be utilized by the team or just for knowledge on how the system ecosystem is set-up and works:
 

1)      Document the server names and specifications that make-up the SharePoint farm.

2)      Document the database configuration

3)      Document all the Domain Name System (DNS) names utilized

4)      Document the web application configuration

5)      Document alternate access mappings utilized

6)      Document the farm solutions deployed in the environment

7)      Document managed paths utilized

8)      Document master page customizations

9)      Document CSS customizations

10)  Document active directory groups utilized

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