Event: SharePoint 2010 Governance and Information Architecture Master Class

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If you fancy a trip to Utrecht, this SharePoint 2010 Governance and Information Architecture Master Class, presented by Antony Clay, Chief Strategy Officer at 21apps, offers two full days of real world examples, knowledge and techniques.

· Purchase tickets for the SharePoint 2010 Governance and Information Architecture Master Class (Utrecht, Netherlands). Enter “Microsoft” for a 15% discount.

· Register your interest for the 3rd SharePoint 2010 Governance and Information Architecture Master Class (UK)

Is this course for me?

Are you a Business Analyst or SharePoint Architect who needs to deal with the hard question of “Will users use the system”?

Have you tried SharePoint and failed (therefore experienced the pain and need it named)?

Are you a strategic management consultant or anyone who is looking for something where so far, the published material hasn’t quite done it for you up till now?

Are you an IT Manager who genuinely wants to hear real techniques behind abstract concepts like “user engagement” and “buy-in”?

Most people understand that deploying SharePoint is much more than getting it installed. Despite this, current SharePoint governance documentation abounds in service delivery aspects. However, just because your system is rock solid, stable, well documented and governed through good process, there is absolutely no guarantee of success. Similarly, if Information Architecture for SharePoint was as easy as putting together lists, libraries and metadata the right way, then why doesn’t Microsoft publish the obvious best practices?

In fact, the secret to a successful SharePoint project is an area that the governance documentation barely touches.

This master class pinpoints the critical success factors for SharePoint governance and Information Architecture and rectifies this blind spot. Based upon content provided by Paul Culmsee ( Seven Sigma ) which takes an ironic and subversive take on how SharePoint governance really works within organisations, while presenting a model and the tools necessary to get it right. 

Drawing on inspiration from many diverse sources, disciplines and case studies, Paul Culmsee has distilled in this Master Class the “what” and “how” of governance down to a simple and accessible, yet rigorous and comprehensive set of tools and methods, that organisations large and small can utilise to achieve the level of commitment required to see SharePoint become successful.

What can I expect?

  • Present SharePoint governance and Information Architecture in a new light - focus on the “blind spots” where the current published material is inadequate
  • Cover lessons learned from Paul’s non IT work as a facilitator and sensemaker in complex large scale projects
  • Examine the latest trends in the information landscape for industry and government and review studies that inform governance and Information Architecture efforts
  • Present an alternative approach to business-as-usual SharePoint governance planning that focuses on real collaboration
  • Provide quality information that is rigorous yet accessible, entertaining and interesting

Master Class outcomes:

  • Understand the SharePoint governance lens beyond an IT service delivery focus
  • Develop your ‘wicked problem’ radar and apply appropriate governance practices, tools and techniques accordingly
  • Learn how to align SharePoint projects to broad organisational goals, avoid chasing platitudes and ensure that the problem being solved is the right problem
  • Learn how to account for cognitive bias and utilise tools and techniques that help stakeholders align to a common vision
  • Understand the relationship between governance and assurance, why both are needed and how they affect innovation and user engagement
  • Understand the underlying, often hidden forces of organisational chaos that underpins projects like SharePoint
  • Understand the key challenges and opportunities that SharePoint presents for Information Architecture
  • Learn how to document your information architecture
  • Practical knowledge: Add lots more tools to your governance and IA toolkit!

Course Structure: The course is split into 7 modules, run across the two days.

Module 1: SharePoint Governance f-Laws 1-17:

Module 1 is all about setting context in the form of clearing some misconceptions about the often muddy topic of SharePoint governance. This module sheds some light onto these less visible SharePoint governance factors in the form of Governance f-Laws, which will also help to provide the context for the rest of this course

  • Why users don’t know what they want
  • The danger of platitudes
  • Why IT doesn’t get it
  • The adaptive challenge - how to govern SharePoint for the hidden organisation
  • The true forces of organisational chaos
  • Wicked problems and how to spot them
  • The myth of best practices and how to determine when a “practice” is really best

Module 2: The Shared Understanding Toolkit – part 1:

Module 2 pinpoints the SharePoint governance blind spot and introduces the Seven Sigma Shared Understanding Toolkit to counter it. The toolkit is a suite of tools, patterns and practices that can be used to improve SharePoint outcomes. This module builds upon the f-laws of module 1 and specifically examines the “what” and “why” questions of SharePoint Governance. Areas covered include how to identify particular types of problems, how to align the diverse goals of stakeholders, leverage problem structuring methods and constructing a solid business case.

Module 3: The Shared Understanding Toolkit – part 2:

Module 3 continues the Seven Sigma Shared Understanding Toolkit, and focuses on the foundation of “what” and “why” by examining the “who” and “how”. Areas covered include aligning stakeholder expectations, priorities and focus areas and building this alignment into a governance structure and written governance plan that actually make sense and that people will read. We round off by examining user engagement/stakeholder communication and training strategy.

Module 4: Information Architecture trends, lessons learned and key SharePoint challenges

Module 4 examines the hidden costs of poor information management practices, as well as some of the trends that are impacting on Information Architecture and the strategic direction of Microsoft as it develops the SharePoint road map. We will also examine the results from what other organisations have attempted and their lessons learned. We then distil those lessons learned into some the fundamental tenants of modern information architecture and finish off by examining the key SharePoint challenges from a technical, strategic and organisational viewpoint.

Module 5: Information organisation and facets of collaboration

Module 5 dives deeper into the core Information Architecture topics of information structure and organisation. We explore the various facets of enterprise collaboration and identify common Information Architecture mistakes and the strategies to avoid making them.

Module 6: Information Seeking, Search and metadata.

Module 6 examines the factors that affect how users seek information and how they manifest in terms of patterns of use. Building upon the facets of collaboration of module 5, we examine several strategies to improving SharePoint search and navigation. We then turn our attention to taxonomy and metadata, and what SharePoint 2010 has to offer in terms of managed metadata

Module 7: Shared understanding and visual representation – documenting your Information Architecture

Module 7 returns to the theme of governance in the sense of communicating your information architecture through visual or written form. To achieve shared understanding among participants, we need to document our designs in various forms for various audiences.

Putting it all together: From vision to execution

As a take home, we will also supply a USB stick for attendees with a sample performance framework, governance plan, SharePoint ROI calculator (Spreadsheet), sample mind maps of Information Architecture. These tools are the result of years of continual development and refinement "out in the field" by Paul Culmsee and until now have never been released to the public.

Previous Master Class Feedback:

"This course has been the most insightful two days of my SharePoint career"
"Easily one of the best courses I've been to and has left me wanting more!"
"Had a great couple of days at #SPIAUK"

"The content covered was about the things technically focussed peeps miss.."