Strategic Consulting

Understanding the bigger picture, “makes the difference.”

Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know! Aligning technology solutions to business needs takes a unique set of skills. Good strategy planning and a deep understanding of product fit is critical to achieving the best solution fit. Gathering requirements from stakeholders is a difficult task and using a partner with proven methodologies is vital for success.

The role of the SharePoint Architect

The role of a SharePoint Architect is to plan and coordinates technical activities and system architectural component development throughout the project lifecycle by working closely with the project management, stakeholders and users as well as the Design and Implementation team.

The SharePoint Architect surveys and analyses business and technical information, conceptualises the viable solutions and applies the Microsoft platform and unique features of SharePoint to obtain a best practices platform-based solution.

Our Portal Project Methodology

Our Portal Methodology is an end-to-end process for portal deployment. As SharePoint strategic consultants, we follow this lifecycle for the project.

SharePoint Governance Framework

The Connected Systems’ SharePoint Governance Framework defines the resource model, change model and policy model for organisations portal environments. It covers administration, maintenance, support and development and identifies lines of ownership for both business and technical teams; clearly outlining lines of responsibility within each facete of the portal. Furthermore it establishes rules for appropriate usage of the SharePoint environments. An effective governance plan ensures the system is managed and used in accordance with its designed intent to improving the manageability of the portal. The resource structure needed to cover all governance aspects includes:

• A strategy group consisting of portal experts; this should take the form of a business-focused committee. Their role is primarily one of decision making purpose; to mediate and sign-off rules and procedures for the use of the portal. This group includes visionaries and thought-leaders; this ensures the continual improvement of business use of the portal and to consider how the portal should be leverage to assist with improving access to information for the knowledge worker.
• A set of technically-competent teams; to manage the routine operational tasks, development tasks, support and training tasks.
• A set of business focused “Site Owners”; these users are empowered to manage sites information and site content. Divesting these responsibilities out to the business means that organisation ICT is no longer involved in making these changes on behalf of the users.

The Connected Systems’ SharePoint Governance Framework aims to establish a governing process and a set of models for the usage, management, development and support of the SharePoint environments. It also aims to deliver the following objectives:

• State the need for a Strategic team; provides strategic insight and direction for the portal, and able to drive strategic initiatives into their respective business units.
• Communicate the need for the business to provide “Site Owners”; support the divesting of the department site management out to the business.
• Identify appropriate infrastructure (IT) resources to provide operational support for the SharePoint platform.
• Create an effective teams and processes for
  • operations
  • development
  • support and training.
• Establish initial governing usage and maintenance policies and procedures for the SharePoint environments.

This and more prescriptive guidance is delivered as part of the Connected Systems’ SharePoint Governance Framework.