four steps to business value

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

© Hank Edwards 5

We want the implementation to be successful, the business value

measurable and the results sustainable.

Four Steps to Value

© Hank Edwards 6

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

of SharePoint.

Four Steps to Success

7© Hank Edwards

Align Strategically

Where is the pain?

Bang for the Buck

Flawless Execution

Align Strategically

© Hank Edwards 8

The project and the platform must be aligned strategically and be

managed as such.

Business Strategy

Align Strategically

© Hank Edwards 9

Determine how the project and platform will positively impact the

business strategy.

IT Strategic Fit

Align Strategically

© Hank Edwards 10

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

© Hank Edwards 11

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

Where Is The Pain?

© Hank Edwards 12

Where do you start? Start with the greatest pain.

Where is the pain?

Where Are You Falling Short?

© Hank Edwards 13

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

immediately improved through SharePoint?

Where is the pain?

If Only I Could???

© Hank Edwards 14

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

Could…”?.

Where is the pain?

Shadow IT

© Hank Edwards 15

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?

© Hank Edwards 16

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

Bang For The Buck

© Hank Edwards 17

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

© Hank Edwards 18

Pick those opportunities that can be easily implemented in SharePoint

and that provide the biggest business benefit.

Focus

Bang For The Buck

© Hank Edwards 19

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

and running within 90 days!

Bang For The Buck

© Hank Edwards 20

The Plan

Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize.

Flawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 21

The best planned project does not provide the best business benefits

unless it is flawlessly executed.

Change ManagementFlawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 22

Change management is more important in a SharePoint implementation

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

Phases

© Hank Edwards 23

Flawless Execution

Implement in phases to showcase the functionality and manage the

scope.

Cultural InfusionFlawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 24

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

their function as well.

User Involvement Is ParamountFlawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 25

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

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

GovernanceFlawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 26

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

secured and managed.

Validate The SuccessFlawless Execution

© Hank Edwards 27

Make sure you document and communicate the successes and business

benefits.

Recap

© Hank Edwards 28

So to recap….

Four Steps to Value

Align Strategically

Where is the pain?

Bang for the Buck

Flawless Execution

29© Hank Edwards

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

SharePoint.

In The End

© Hank Edwards 30

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