7 Key Project Phase Steps for a SharePoint Site

The following are the seven key project phases for a SharePoint site:

Concept Studies - in this stage one brainstorms ideas and wireframes them.

Concept & Development - in this stage one takes the brainstormed concept and starts to develop the needed content pieces. 

Preliminary Design & Completion - in this stage one starts to build the site from a content and design standpoint. 

Final Design - in this stage one finalizes the design aspects for the site.

Test Launch - in this stage one publishes the site for a core set of users to test.

Go-Live Launch - in this stage after aspects found in testing are completed, the final site is published and permissioned.

Closeout - in this stage, the project is closed as all documentation, budgets and other resource and project related items are fully completed.

Top 3 Keyboard Aspects Related to SharePoint

The following are three keyboard aspects related to SharePoint:

1. Keyboard Shortcuts in SharePoint Online:
• Keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance the efficiency when working with SharePoint in Microsoft 365. Frequently used shortcuts include:
• Navigate the screen: Use the Tab key.
• Display context menu for selected item: Press Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key.
• Copy text: Press Ctrl+C.
• Undo the latest action: Use Ctrl+Z.
• For more shortcuts, see the complete list.
2. External Sharing:
• SharePoint allows one to collaborate with external users by turning on external sharing. This feature enables one to share documents, sites, and content securely with people outside the organization.
3. Enterprise Keywords:
• Enterprise keywords are a useful feature in SharePoint. They allow users to tag content with relevant keywords, making it easier to search and categorize information. These keywords can be suggested from a taxonomy or manually entered.

Top 3 Features in a SharePoint Online List

The following are three hidden gems for making the most of a SharePoint Online list:

1. Favoriting a List for Easy Access: Quickly access the most important or active information by favoriting a list. Simply use the star icon next to the list’s title and click it. The favorited list will appear at the top of the Lists home page, both on the web and in the mobile app.
2. Create a List from a Template: When starting a new project, one can utilize one of the ready-made templates available in Microsoft Lists. These templates cover common scenarios such as work progress tracking, asset management, and employee onboarding.
3. Replicate an Existing List: If one already has a perfectly formatted and configured list, easily replicate it for similar efforts. Create a new list using the format and structure of an existing list that was made.

Retrieve the Top 3 Records from a SharePoint List

The following retrieve the top 3 records from a SharePoint list, using the following formulas:

1. Gold: The highest score:
• First(SortByColumns('Quiz Scoreboard', "Score", Descending)).Nickname
2. Silver: The second-highest score:
• Last(FirstN(SortByColumns('Quiz Scoreboard', "Score", Descending), 2)).Nickname
3. Bronze: The third-highest score:
• Last(FirstN(SortByColumns('Quiz Scoreboard', "Score", Descending), 3)).Nickname

The formulas assume that a SharePoint list is named 'Quiz Scoreboard', and it contains columns for 'Nickname' and 'Score'. One can adjust the column names accordingly to match the actual list structure.

Top 3 SharePoint Site Design Styles

The following are three SharePoint site design styles that utilize a user-friendly design:

1. Intranet Homepage Design:
• The intranet homepage is the gateway to an organization’s digital workspace. It provides a clean and modern layout with clear navigation.
• Uses visually engaging elements such as banners, images, and videos to highlight important announcements, company news, and updates.
• Can use corporate colors and branding to help maintain consistency and reinforce the organization’s identity.
2. Financial Services Design:
• Used to highlight financial data, stock market trends, and investment insights.
• Used to display financial tools, reports, and other information.
• Uses fonts and colors to convey reliability and expertise.
3. New Hire Onboarding Landing Page:
• Streamlines the onboarding process with a dedicated landing page for new hires.
• Provides essential resources such as employee handbooks, training materials, and FAQs.
• Uses a welcoming tone and friendly visuals to ease the transition for new employees.
• Considers interactive elements such as polls or surveys to gather feedback and improve the onboarding experience.

7 Key Project Phase Steps for a SharePoint Site

The following are the seven key project phases for a SharePoint site:

1) Concept Studies - in this stage one brainstorms ideas and wireframes them.

2) Concept & Development - in this stage one takes the brainstormed concept and starts to develop the needed content pieces. 

3) Preliminary Design & Completion - in this stage one starts to build the site from a content and design standpoint. 

4) Final Design - in this stage one finalizes the design aspects for the site.

5) Test Launch - in this stage one publishes the site for a core set of users to test.

6) Go-Live Launch - in this stage after aspects found in testing are completed, the final site is published and permissioned.

7) Closeout - in this stage, the project is closed as all documentation, budgets and other resource and project related items are fully completed. 

3 Product Realization Aspects with a SharePoint Project

The following are three key product realization aspects that any SharePoint project will have:

1) Design Realization - What SharePoint templates are available? What layout, graphics and content are needed?

2) Evaluation Process - What SharePoint template works best for what is needed? What features and functionality are needed?

3) Product Transition Process - What aspects work for the SharePoint project? What aspects don't work? As applicable, features, functionality and layout can be explored and expanded to meet the needs of the project.