SharePoint – Intranet CMS?
Scottish Web Folk
University of Strathclyde 17th April 2009

Introduction
 Frank MacDonald
 Web Development Manager Heriot-Watt University
www.hw.ac.uk
 Started February 2009
 ‘Web Refresh Project’
 SharePoint project collaboration & Intranet
 SharePoint since January 2007
 CMS unsuitable for Extranet / Intranet
 SAC http://share.sac.ac.uk

SharePoint - Introduction
 Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS)
 Collaboration platform
 A password-protected web accessible database of
files and web pages that is accessed using a
familiar Microsoft Office interface that allows
advanced collaboration and document
management features.
 WSS 3.0/MOSS 2007 Standard/Enterprise
 Campus agreement
 Licences <£1,000!

SharePoint - Versions

SharePoint - Roles

SharePoint @ HW
 Install in a day, configure in a lifetime…
 Centrally provided SharePoint platform to
encourage schools, lower duplication & costs.
 Pilot project for managing SunGard Banner
project.
 Structure to allow staff Intranet by stealth.
 Live site http://sharepoint.hw.ac.uk

SharePoint @ HW

Why discuss SharePoint?
 Is SharePoint a web CMS?
 Depends.
 Do you have .NET skill resources to adapt look
www.napier.ac.uk Unlikely…
 Complex to configure, Ferrari
 Accessibility issues, AKS
 SharePoint is not a Web Teams responsibility
 Yes and no.
 Blurring of what is a web service and traditional IT
infrastructure, conflict?
 Do you get involved in Intranet sites and custom
applications? If yes then SharePoint is relevant.

Is SharePoint an Intranet
CMS?
 Yes!

Key SharePoint advantages
for Intranet
 Ease of use for developers & site owners.
 Simple, familiar, and consistent user experience.
 Microsoft Office integration.
 Document management bias.
 Audience and authentication based on Active
Directory single sign on & groups.
 Team and project management content targeted at
multiple audiences and content in same location.
 Announcements, alerts, custom lists, workflow,
forms, calendars, workspaces to name but a few.

ECM / SharePoint CMS
Integration
 CMS Market consolidation, fewer standalone
CMS

ECM / SharePoint CMS
Integration
 ECM definition…

ECM / SharePoint CMS
Integration
 SharePoint's role in ECM, is it ECM?
 No, ‘ECM lite’, it requires other products to function.
 “Though it covers a broad spectrum of capabilities, MOSS
2007 is not yet a full enterprise content management (ECM)
system. Organizations requiring advanced content
management capabilities and process-centric applications
will need to augment their capabilities with partner offerings,
or deploy MOSS 2007 alongside an ECM system rather than
as a replacement for it.” Gartner
 Nevertheless,
 Strong focus on SharePoint integration in CMS market.
 What business has the resource and discipline to introduce
ECM?
 SharePoint introduces concepts of ECM to the workplace.

SharemyPoint
 SharePoint is relevant to Web Teams that manage an Intranet
or want to investigate project collaboration / document
management.
 It is ideal software for managing an Intranet, easy to use simply
or quick to develop advanced features.
 Low cost approach for academic sector.
 Any CMS selection should strongly consider integration with
SharePoint.
 However
 Watch out how SharePoint is resourced, admin to training.
 Do not underestimate the support required.
 Don’t run before you can walk, remove features until strategy in
place.
 Maintaining high standards in the Intranet, if it is easy to use it may
be easy to abuse!

Questions
 Do you think you will be involved with SharePoint?
 Do you have a central SharePoint Strategy at your
institution?
 What is your ECM strategy?
 How do we deal with integration and functionality
cross over of VLE, SharePoint, CMS and ECM!?