Office 365 talk

The part that is still a bit unknown is SharePoint.

Specifically, we would need to have a SharePoint server in-house, running a hybrid environment.

What is drives this decision?

Hybrid deployments are complex and costly requiring multiple servers

Points of concern:

We want to be able to work locally and remotely; however, the remote option is secondary to quickly accessing files from a server internally. 

– Using SharePoint Online allows for work on any device, anywhere, anytime – you need a USERNAME / PASSWORD or optionally configure multi-factor authentication.

We are not willing to put everything in the Microsoft cloud as it just doesn't work for us operationally speaking.

Can you describe your typical operational day for the different types of workers?

We have tried to implement systems in the past where we asked people to download files in a check-in/check-out process people have to download things continuously to work with them offline

One Drive for Business allows for editing within the browser; no download; no check out; however, depends a bit on those operational process and the type of worker

We also need to be able to have both Microsoft files as well as Adobe Creative Suite files in the same client directories. 

Document libraries are what they are called; they can store many different file types; there are some files which are excluded (such as viruses signatures) and any type of executable file.

Surrounding the SharePoint hybrid I wanted to give you a bit more information so you can plan accordingly and get me the most accurate pricing. We can assume we would have less than 250 users accessing SharePoint Server 2013. So I believe we need 1 SharePoint Server 2013 license and 250 CALs. 

A lot! A typical on premise installation without Hybrid in the equation is 3 servers; 4 if you plan to use Web Applications; 3 SharePoint Server Licenses and 1 SQL Server License. If we start to introduce any type of Business Intelligence generally this installed on its own server. When we talk about Hybrid; then some additionally PROXY servers are necessary to allow on premise to talk to online.

Topical Traditional Typologies from Technet - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=257304 

3 Business Drivers for Collaboration

Hello, I spend much of my time talking to IT about SharePoint installations or upgrades. Most of the time spent answering questions about what is the recommended practice for installation or upgrading. In the back of my mind, I can’t stop thinking about those business users who are not involved. As a business owner myself working with my wife trying to grow a small local Office Cleaning business, I can’t wonder what IT business drivers are requiring to install or upgrade SharePoint. As a business owner, I spend a lot of time innovating new ways to connect to potential customers for my wife.

As a thought leader, we need to look to increase revenue identifying key business drivers.  Does this seem logical?  The business drivers to build laser focus aligning individuals and business revenue could leverage three (3) key business drivers and phrase differently by Isaac Getz at at Ted video.

• Enable Employees to increase innovation (personal growth)
• Make it easy to collaborate with others inside and outside the company (self-direction)
• Improve employee cohesiveness (intrinsic equality)

Define your Best in Class Collaboration  questions?

• is your SharePoint installation healthy, engaging, and easy to navigate?
• did IT install a version use in IT and say, hey this might help our business?
• did IT train the business how to upload a document into a document library?
• does the company use a common set of terms to describe your business?
• are you willing to work in new ways?

Collaboration Attributes to consider to achieve those business drivers

Searchable – content (documents, excel spreadsheets, power point presentations, pdf, video, email) should be easy to find; do you have employees with complex folder structures in email housing tribal knowledge? Perhaps storing files on file shares; are some of those files dated with 05/31/2005? Is it easy to take the contents with you remotely; do you have employees using unsanctioned methods sharing 8 year old content? How easily is it to truly collaborate (co-author a document together) with someone external to your company; for that matter internally. Is this use case using “best in class” collaboration tools?

Champion – Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champion. Not exactly what your “best in class” collaboration solution is looking for (Unless you are Seahawk fan)? Oh, you assigned someone in IT who trained those users how to upload a document. Ask yourself; does the IT person also know your business and what it takes to increase revenue or get others engaged to collaborate about innovative ways to work differently?  I dare you to find a business knowledgeable person who is not interested in being a champion.

Real-time – does your collaboration happen in real-time? Does your business make decisions with information using currently entered transaction data or updated compliance procedures? Do you believe analyzing a specific market segment or maybe a customer segment could be key to increasing revenue?

Drive development, sales, marketing activities – Do you block Twitter, Facebook, and other Social collaboration outlets; or do you bring into your collaborative environment data which could prove to increase your revenue? What percentage of your employees are engaged to drive such activities both internally and externally?

Embedded into day to day activities – Collaboration embedded into day to day activities engages employee’s and removes perceptions while enabling ability to increase revenue. Is there a process in your company which starts and stops; perhaps even halts completely when some is on vacation or leaves the company.

Unafraid of disruptive innovation – Collaboration encourages disruption; have you have been instant messaged during a great song on your iPod? Perhaps, you were disrupted by a telephone call only to find out it was a wrong number or worse yet; your boss asking why the your sales plan is not completed.

How do you rate your collaboration attributes… “BEST IN CLASS”?   Yup, SharePoint is installed or Nope, we need to talk to Marketing and other departments outside of IT.

IT and Business Areas site down together to work out some specific use cases and metrics; do be afraid of each other or intimidate the other by saying “NO” or “You cost too much”.

There are best practices for “best in class”; start with business drivers and align them with your business objectives “increase revenue”.

Give it a try work differently!