becoming a sharepoint chef: a non-culinary calling
TRANSCRIPT
Becoming a SharePoint Chef(a non-culinary calling)
Phil Greer12+ years SharePoint experience: 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, o365 Architecture Governance Development Infrastructure / Administration Project Management Business Analysis End-User Training
TOGAF, MCTS & MCITP certified Pursuing MCSA/MCSE Saskatchewan SharePoint User Group (SKSPUG)
Our Agenda
The Cook & The Chef
How To Learn
What To Learn
Where Next?
1. The Cook & The ChefMusk’s Secret Sauce
What does it mean to be a
chefvs.
cook?
A Cook…• Follows recipes
• Improvises only when ingredients are missing
• Shifts recipes slightly to suit tastes
A Chef is…
• Innovator (ew)• Inventor
But what does that mean?
A Chef…
• Works from 1st principles
• Takes into account all that is known, all possible ingredients, all of their experiences (what works/doesn't)
• Knows the art and can choose the possibilities (ingredients) & a path (creation/recipe)
With SharePointeveryone is called to be a chef
Anyone who creates sites, lists, libraries and maps a business process to SharePoint.
not everyone is ready to be a chef from
Day 1 > Year 1 > Project 1
Problem
WE CAN’T CHOOSE OUR
CALLINGIt chooses us.
You have been selected to be a SP chef…
what to do?
SP First Principles
• Architecture• Physical• Logical• Functional
SP First Principles
• Collaboration• Managed Metadata• Content Types• Containers (Sites / Lists / Libraries)• Workflow
Chef:It’s all about the
presentation
SharePoint Chef:
It’s all about the UX
2. How to Learn
Chefs don’t become chefs
just by reading books.
Buy a book, take a course, read a blog (or several)write the test
Talk to meor another leaderto help choose the right one for you.
Pop Quiz:Are Microsoft Certifications
worth your time?
Trick Question
It DependsWho wants you to become certified?
Trick Question
• Multiple choice exams that zoom in & out
• Tough to pass without real world experience• Exams designed to demonstrate your ability to
Think from (SP) 1st Principles
• wide breadth• deep depth
Learning Resources
• Seek out SharePoint MVPs• Training, Conferences, Books, Blogs
Learning Resources
Find blogs that resonate with you:
• Marc Anderson• Vesa Juvonen• Chris Johnson• Andrew Connell
• Mark Rackley• Eric Shupps • Gary Lapointe• Todd Klindt
Learning Resources
Apply your real world knowledge:• Use it or Lose it
Build SP Dev environment https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/fp179924.aspx
Build Azure environment https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/free-trial/
Poll:How many years have you been working
with SharePoint?
People Resources
• Find a mentor• Find a study buddy
• Beware:Veterans might send you down a rabbit hole
What happens if you
get stuck?
“Sorry something went wrong" (great, thanks SP)
When You’re Stuck
• What am I doing right now that could be causing the problem?
• Reason from 1st principles
When You’re Stuck
Forums:• SharePoint Stack Exchange• TechNet
When You’re Stuck
• Google (No !)
• Books, Blogs
• Videos: Pluralsight, MVA, Channel9, SP Videos
• People resources (SKSPUG)
Before You Search
• We all do it first
• Think about it: Why am I getting this error and What can I do about it?
Troubleshooting
• The art of troubleshooting
• Your troubleshooting muscle
• Nothing is telling you to slow downNo traffic signs here
You see a boat full of people, but SP tells you there isn't a single person
on the boat. How can this be?
Troubleshooting
• Correlation IDs & ULS• Application event logs• IIS logs• Service Applications & how it all fits together
• Learn about SP troubleshooting by doing
3. What to Learn
There is so much to learn.
You can't learn everything by reading all of the books/blogs.
You need to practice your art
(being a chef)
How to Practice
• Build something for you
• Build something for your business
• How does the business get started with SP? Start with a Plan
How to Practice
• Talk to a professional• Attend SPUGs• Hire a consultant
How to Practice
• Just start! • Fire up some servers in Azure or a tenant in
o365 & start working
Make a Plan
• Plan first (to prioritize your objectives)• Mistakes happen without a plan• Problem exists when we aren't SP chefs yet
POC TESTLEARN FROM
MISTAKES
PLAN FOR PROD
Can you just build an Intranet?
Does Intranet building require common know how,
or can you just build it?Nope.
Make a Plan
• You can't expect the business to know what to give you
• Start with a workshop, dialogue mapping, drawing/diagraming
• Map results of the workshop to SP • What are the necessary ingredients: sites, lists,
solutions, & integration
Make a Plan
• Build Information Architecture describing business objects (metadata, content types)
• If you don't plan IA, you will get a mess
• Plan for re-usability, knowing you might not get it exactly right out of the gate
Make a Plan
• What is your enterprise plan for SP?
• Seek input from stakeholders
• Frequent problem for the SP chef is responsibility without authority
Responsibilitywithout
Authority
Problem
Mistakes• Prepare to accept that you will make mistakes• Learn through making mistakes
• There is no ultimate resource that lists all possible SP mistakes
Customization
L1 - As soon as you open a site & start building you are customizing L2 - Augment the experienceL3 - Change the behaviour
L2EXPERIENCE
L3BEHAVIOUR
L1 OOTB
Don’t customize without a plan.
What are you doing?Where are you going?
What’s the goal or end state?How do you get there?What are the options?
Solutions
• Many solutions are possible
• Fall back on your knowledge of 1st Principles
• Add-in (App)• CSOM/JSOM• Workflow• Full Trust
4. What Next
Poll: Are you a SP newbie, cook, chef?
Highest level you have achieved to date?
Benefits of SPUGs
• Networking with a community of peers• Co-learning opportunities• Learn by presenting on SP• Access to veterans• Venue to have your questions answered
SKSPUG
• All SP all the time• Unifies our local SP community• Have your say on events and topics• All roads lead to a SharePoint Saturday in SK
Thank you!
Twitter:@getSPphil
LinkedIn:http://ca.linkedin.com/in/philgreersk