{"id":448,"date":"2017-04-21T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dontpapanic.com\/blog\/?p=448"},"modified":"2017-05-24T09:26:05","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T13:26:05","slug":"when-implementing-sharepoint-failing-to-plan-is-planning-to-fail-pt-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dontpapanic.com\/blog\/?p=448","title":{"rendered":"When Implementing SharePoint: Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail – Pt.2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"plan-to-fail1\"Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
\nI’ve seen this scenario \u2013 the failure to plan \u2013 play out at many companies, especially when implementing or upgrading SharePoint environments.
\nImplementing or upgrading a product like SharePoint, that is designed to empower information workers to do things for themselves, requires detailed planning.
\nWhy?
\nBecause empowerment\u200b does not come from a “one size fits all” product or solution.
\nSharePoint can be used to tailor a solution and deliver business value to an organizations’ technical environment. But that kind of tailoring requires careful planning. Otherwise, an organization will end up with a product that is implemented well, but does not fulfill the strategic goals they’ve set for the business.
\nIn my first post of this series, we evaluated the reasons why organizations do not spend enough time planning before implementing SharePoint. (Read part 1<\/a>)\u00a0 In part two of this series, we\u2019ll identify at some of the planning tasks that are overlooked when planning a new SharePoint implementation.<\/p>\n

Governance<\/h2>\n

Governance helps you determine how SharePoint will be used to make your organization better. There must be a shared vision and the appropriate controls in place to make that happen.<\/p>\n

Goals<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Develop a shared strategic vision \u200b<\/li>\n
  2. \u200b\u200bReach a consensus on how SharePoint will be used<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Key Questions<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Is our corporate culture comfortable with a self-service model?<\/li>\n
    • What will we control using Policies versus customization of SharePoint?<\/li>\n
    • What business needs will SharePoint address?<\/li>\n
    • How will policy decisions be communicated, updated, and enforced?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Security<\/h2>\n

      How SharePoint security is implemented must be done in accordance with corporate culture. If not, content won\u2019t be available to the people that need it or won\u2019t it be secured.<\/p>\n

      Goal<\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. Decide whether or not security administration will be centralized or delegated<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u200b\u200bKey Questions<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Do business users just manage the content or actually own the content they produce?<\/li>\n
        • \u200bWhich is more important: timely access to content or guaranteed security?<\/li>\n
        • Will training be provided for users who need to manage their own content?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Taxonomy\/Folksonomy<\/h2>\n

          If information architecture isn\u2019t planned, content will go in, but it won\u2019t be efficiently used after it is first stored. A good organizational methodology is critical to your success.<\/p>\n

          Goal<\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. Plan how content will be organized in order to make it easy to find<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Key Question\u200b<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • How will we implement a structure for organizing content?<\/li>\n
            • How can users surface content that is important to them?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Architecture<\/h2>\n

              Upfront planning will result in a physical system that maximizes performance while minimizing costs. It must also be flexible and grow as usage increases.<\/p>\n

              Goal<\/h3>\n
                \n
              1. A\u200bchieve a balance between cost and performance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Key Questions<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • What services will we use and where will they be located?<\/li>\n
                • How important is search in our environment?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  High Availability (\u201cHA\u201d)\/Disaster Recovery (\u201cDR\u201d)<\/h2>\n

                  In most organizations, SharePoint becomes a mission critical application when it is implemented well. A service that can\u2019t be depended upon can be worse than one that is poorly implemented.<\/p>\n

                  Goal<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  1. Build an environment that can be depended upon as a critical application.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Key Questions<\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    • How much downtime can we tolerate?<\/li>\n
                    • How much data can we afford to lose?<\/li>\n
                    • How much will HA and DR cost?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Staffing<\/h2>\n

                      SharePoint focuses on providing a self-service environment. But, having the right staff in place to maintain the system is still a critical factor to your success.<\/p>\n

                      Goal<\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      1. Plan adequate staffing to support implementation of the other planning decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        Key Questions<\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        • Centralized security will require more staff for versus delegated security<\/li>\n
                        • How will our information architecture be maintained and enhanced over time?<\/li>\n
                        • What level of patches and fixes will be applied? All Cumulative Updates or just Service Packs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Training\/Communications<\/h2>\n

                          Even if you build the perfect system, people won’t be able to effectively use it without the appropriate training. You must develop a communications and training plan.<\/p>\n

                          Goal<\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          1. Increase user adoption and satisfaction<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            Key Questions<\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            • Develop and leverage local champions to increase knowledge and acceptance.<\/li>\n
                            • What is the right level of training and communications for your organization?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Spending some time planning will lead to a successful implementation that can transform the way your company collaborates and shares information. And that\u2019s what you started your project for in the first place, right?<\/p>\n