You know, I’ve been rubbing shoulders with SharePoint professionals and recruiting in that space for seven years now, but one thing I’ve always heard (and read) is that everyone thinks of SharePoint in different ways. They all want something different from it. They all use it in different ways.
I mean what if you had to explain SharePoint to your Grandma!?
Take the ‘official’ definitions for example, there’s no real clarity given there either:
Microsoft
“SharePoint is about giving you and the people you work with a better way to get things done together.” (http://www.discoversharepoint.com/)
Wiki
“SharePoint is a Web application platform for creating Intranet portals, document/file management, collaboration, social networks, extranets, websites, enterprise search.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SharePoint)
Gartner
“not for large-scale organisations” – http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?id=1209350
SharePoint in action
Surveys suggest around 50% of organisations are currently using SharePoint. (http://cibasolutions.typepad.com/wic/2012/07/poll-results-what-technologies-do-companies-use-to-develop-their-intranets.html).
Even here at Connectus we’ve now embraced SharePoint and are in the midst of our first implementation. We’re growing, diversifying & developing our brands across multiple locations for the same client base – SharePoint will improve our internal communication, processes and reporting. Oh, and I like the desk-less aspect too J
Coca Cola [a large-scale organisation Gartner(!)] has 72,000 employees in 431 facilities globally; 55,000 vehicles, and 2.4 million coolers, vending machines and beverage dispensers – SharePoint benefited Coca Cola through having a single intranet which enable desk-less teams across remote locations. (https://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000004609)
Challenges of SharePoint
Michael Sampson, a Collaboration Strategist on SharePoint, understands the reasons behind the technological success of SharePoint, but sees many business users struggling with the advance of technology, leading to a ‘chaotic nightmare’. (http://www.michaelsampson.net/sharepointcollaboration.html)
SharePoint sounds good and it certainly has clear advantages; Shawn Shell of Hitachi Consulting quoted “as SharePoint evolves, it becomes an indispensable tool”. However there are notable drawbacks and challenges that can make the SharePoint journey a demanding and recursive one.
With any technology implementation or upgrade, there’s always going to be hurdles. Whether it’s creating the right RoadMap or having the right Governance… but the one that I never stop hearing from hiring managers and SharePoint steering groups is that internal ‘gap’, that divide, that immeasurable aperture between the technology and the business. This can sometimes be known as that feeling of ‘them’ and ‘us’ – partly because the lack of communication and consistency of knowing what the other side is thinking, or doing.
One of my major requests within SharePoint recruitment is the need for techno/functional people; the need for individuals to be technically savvy and to have the credibility and understanding of business users. Our SharePoint Practice at Connectus, has over the years, designed a series of scenario-based questions to aid us in identifying key competencies that our clients look for in individuals; this places us as a key supplier for a number of Microsoft partners.
The SharePoint talent shortage is also a key challenge to any SharePoint recruitment programme – hence the drive in permanent salary expectations in recent years thanks to the ‘war on talent’. What’s worked for us is to continually map out networking avenues, follow industry experts and attend User Groups and conferences. This provides us with a flow of SharePoint talent.
If you’ve had similar problems with finding SharePoint talent, please do contact us. We’re refreshingly different, credible and knowledgeable. We can even sign post you to other Microsoft partners and thought leaders.
To see our current SharePoint jobs please visit http://www.connectusnow.com/sharepoint-jobs/