Four Steps to Achieving Business Value

© Hank Edwards 1

Twitter: @hankedwards

It’s the business value, stupid!

© Hank Edwards 2

It is not about the technology, but rather how that technology can be

implemented strategically to create business value

SharePoint is a strategic business oriented platform with pre-built sets of functionality that enable faster and less expensive

creation of business solutions

© Hank Edwards 3

The goal is to implement SharePoint not as a tool, but as a Strategic

platform to enable faster realization of business improvement.

Broad and Deep

© Hank Edwards 4

Some are intimidated by the depth and breadth of SharePoint and

therefore do not know where to begin.

Successful, Measurable, Sustainable

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We want the implementation to be successful, the business value

measurable and the results sustainable.

Four Steps to Value

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We will go over four steps to ensure that you have a strategic implementation

of SharePoint.

Four Steps to Success

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Align Strategically

Where is the pain?

Bang for the Buck

Flawless Execution

Align Strategically

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The project and the platform must be aligned strategically and be

managed as such.

Business Strategy

Align Strategically

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Determine how the project and platform will positively impact the

business strategy.

IT Strategic Fit

Align Strategically

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Is SharePoint a project or a pillar of the IT strategy? Many organizations

make SharePoint as a pillar along with ERP and CRM.

Align Strategically

Measureable Business Impact

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You must be able to define the measurable business impact and benefit.

Where Is The Pain?

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Where do you start? Start with the greatest pain.

Where is the pain?

Where Are You Falling Short?

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Which business processes are falling short of their potential and can be

immediately improved through SharePoint?

Where is the pain?

If Only I Could???

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How many times have you heard from the user community “If Only I

Could…”?.

Where is the pain?

Shadow IT

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Many of the “Shadow IT” projects can be implemented by the businesses

within the SharePoint platform.

It Takes Too Much Time

Where is the pain?

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Identify the processes that now take too much time and can be improved.

Bang For The Buck

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Now that the opportunities have been defined, how do we pick the best

one? Obviously, go for the biggest Bank for the Buck.

Low Hanging Fruit

Bang For The Buck

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Pick those opportunities that can be easily implemented in SharePoint

and that provide the biggest business benefit.

Focus

Bang For The Buck

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Stay focused and do not try to do too many things. Get something up

and running within 90 days!

Bang For The Buck

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The Plan

Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize.

Flawless Execution

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The best planned project does not provide the best business benefits

unless it is flawlessly executed.

Change ManagementFlawless Execution

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Change management is more important in a SharePoint implementation

because the way people do their work can be dramatically changed.

Phases

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Flawless Execution

Implement in phases to showcase the functionality and manage the

scope.

Cultural InfusionFlawless Execution

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Once others see the benefits, they will want to implement SharePoint for

their function as well.

User Involvement Is ParamountFlawless Execution

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Keep users involved at every step of the project. Acceptance increases

with increasing user involvement. A= x(UI).

GovernanceFlawless Execution

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Governance is critical in defining how SharePoint will be used, deployed,

secured and managed.

Validate The SuccessFlawless Execution

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Make sure you document and communicate the successes and business

benefits.

Recap

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So to recap….

Four Steps to Value

Align Strategically

Where is the pain?

Bang for the Buck

Flawless Execution

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These are the four steps to a successful and strategic implementation of

SharePoint.

In The End

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When all four steps are done properly, then the puzzle comes together

with measurable and sustainable business benefits.

31© Hank Edwards

References

32© Hank Edwards

• Bhatia, A (2012) “Value Creation”

• Murphy, T (2002) “Achieving Business Value from Technology”

• Atkinson, C (2008) “beyond bullet points”

• Currey, B (2008) “Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Best Practices”

• Heath, C (2010) “Switch How To Change Things When Change Is Hard”

Hank Edwards

33© Hank Edwards

•Hank has served as the CIO for several Atlanta based international firms

•Hank is a IT strategy consultant

• Arkleton Advisors www.arkleton.com

Hankedwards@arkleton.comPhone: 678-467-9259Twitter: @hankedwards