L A R G E A G I L E S H A R E P O I N T E N T E R P R I S E R O L L O U T
Table of Contents 0 1 The Case for SharePoint 06 LASER 02 Challenges 07 How it Works 03 SharePoint with an Agile Execution 08 Typical LASER Project 04 Geocent s Agile Team 09 Tailored to Your Needs 05 Build Build the Right Solutions/ Solutions Right
The Case for SharePoint Many large organizations have considered using Microsoft SharePoint to provide enterprise content management features to their users and customers. SharePoint provides many great tools out of the box such as document and records management, collaboration, web site management, mobile capabilities, business process and workflow, email archiving, social features, and ediscovery. WHEN IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY, THESE FEATURES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE YOUR ORGANIZATION S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE BOTH IN THE OFFICE AND ON THE GO. LASER // 1
Challenges Correctly designing and then implementing the right set of SharePoint features for your organization can be daunting. Many organizations are stretched thin when it comes to technical staff with the skillsets needed to properly deploy SharePoint. SharePoint's enterprise-class feature set requires careful consideration and planning to properly implement. The last thing a CIO or IT Director wants is to unveil a new system and have users reject it because of: UNREALIZED EXPECTATIONS FAILURES IN TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION. LASER // 2
SharePoint with an Agile Execution Geocent has found that large SharePoint implementations greatly benefit from an agile execution approach for the design and rollout of SharePoint features across the enterprise. LASER // 3
Geocent s Agile Team Geocent provides one or several small, focused delivery teams for large-scale SharePoint deployments. Our agile delivery approach synchronizes team activities, provides program-level visibility and ensures alignment with our customer s strategic roadmap, governance and quality standards, and delivery milestones. Our customers benefit by: Accelerated delivery of valuable enterprise features to customer s business users Efficient use of stakeholders time by gathering targeted requirements and delivering business value in short cycles Minimized impact of changes/ re-prioritization of enterprise features by customer High visibility of project team activities and progress Predictable cadence for planning and delivery LASER // 4
Build the right solutions/ Build solutions right Geocent s execution uses the Scrum framework and XP practices to minimize disconnects between managers, developers, and business users. Combined, the two practices provide Geocent s foundation to design and deliver the best solution to meet our customer s needs from a complex platform like SharePoint. Quality is not a variable, as fully tested functionality is implemented incrementally to take advantage of evolving customer needs. As a result, the customer gains immediate value throughout the project lifecycle. Features are rolled out in a controlled, regular cycle, keeping pace with end-user training and preventing users from being overwhelmed by new functionality. By not overloading the end user, organization-wide adoption of the new system is vastly improved. LASER // 5
Geocent has packaged our agile delivery of SharePoint to enterprise customers into a structured offering known as a LASER (Large Agile SharePoint Enterprise Rollout). Geocent s LASER offering provides your business with a structured design and deployment team of SharePoint developers and architects, business analysts, testers, and project managers. Geocent s LASER team works alongside your business stakeholders to implement an enterprise SharePoint solution that gives organizational departments the specific features they need while also providing enterprise-wide visibility and collaboration across business documents, processes, and people. LASER // 6
How it Works Geocent s LASER team, led by a scrum master, works with our client to define and organize desired SharePoint features in a ranked list, called a backlog. LASER teams work in two week cycles known as sprints. At the start of each sprint, a team performs detailed planning against a set of highest priority features from the backlog, and commits to delivery goals for the two week period. Daily stand-up meetings, task burndown progress, and frequent design reviews ensure that the team is on track to meet the sprint goals. At the end of each sprint, fully tested solution components are demonstrated to client stakeholders in what s known as a sprint review. During the sprint review, feedback is encouraged - keeping the client stakeholders engaged throughout the project. Some of the best ideas for new or improved features surface during these bi-weekly meetings. Following the sprint review, teams immediately move into sprint planning and commit to a new set of goals for the next two week iteration. SPRINT Week 1 Week 2 Sprint Review LASER // 7
Typical LASER Project The graphic below is an example of what might be accomplished in a typical LASER project. SPRINT 1 SPRINT 2 SPRINT n SharePoint Infrastructure Healthcheck / Setup Detailed requirements gathering and design, with stakeholder participation First release: base SharePoint deployment and top level site collections Department specific site deployments Customized site design and features with HTML5 / CSS3 Integrated systems requirements and design Second Release: customized SharePoint sites and features Business Intelligence portal and dashboards Integration with ERP Department specific custom functionality Project Server nth release: interactive BI dashboards, integration with ERP and other platforms, advanced SharePoint customizations LASER // 8
Tailored to Your Needs Your business s specific SharePoint requirements will determine the number of sprints necessary for your LASER engagement. A typical LASER generally requires 3-10 sprints depending on customization and other design requirements. The agile methodology employed by the LASER team ensures that as the project progresses, our client can shift or alter business requirements without significantly impacting the overall project goals or budget. TYPICAL NUMBER OF LASER SPRINTS 3-10 LASER // 9
About Geocent OFFICE LOCATIONS Metairie, LA (Corporate HQ) New Orleans, LA Baton Rouge, LA Stennis, MS Charleston, SC Huntsville, AL Tulsa, OK Geocent is a full service information technology consultancy. We provide clients with motivated and trained technology consultants that are experienced in nearly every facet of information technology. Geocent provides technology solutions across a wide variety of functional areas. Our clients include government; primarily defense, homeland security, aerospace and social services; and commercial industries such as oil and gas exploration, marine transportation, and healthcare. Through our experience working with both government and commercial organizations, Geocent has developed the flexibility and expertise to meet a wide range of technological and engineering needs for different clients.
About the Authors Michelle Russo has a 25+ year history in the IT field, with nearly 15 years focused in program/project management, application lifecycle management, and business process optimization. She has successfully led IT programs and projects for Federal/State/Local government as well as private sector industry including finance and healthcare. Ms. Russo is expert at traditional Software Delivery Life Cycle (SDLC) planning and execution, and has specialized experience in delivery using lean/agile frameworks Michelle Russo Ms. Russo holds a current PMP certification in addition to Microsoft credentials including MCSD in Application Lifecycle Management (MCSD: ALM), and Microsoft Specialist Certification: Managing Projects with Microsoft Project 2013. She also holds advanced agile/scrum credentials: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Program Consultant and trainer (SPC). She is an active member and frequent presenter for Louisiana s local PMI Chapters in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and she co-founded Agile New Orleans (Agile NOLA) as a recognized local chapter of the Agile Leadership Network, Agile Alliance, and the Scrum Alliance. Ms Russo served as Co-Chair for the Scrum Alliance Global SCRUM GATHERING New Orleans 2014.
About the Authors Dale Kirby is a business systems architect with over a decade of experience in the design, implementation, and rollout of major technology initiatives. He has played a principal role in creating complex solutions for businesses in sectors including energy, professional sports, finance and insurance, maritime, education, manufacturing, emergency management and disaster mitigation, and state and local government. Dale Kirby In his role at Geocent, Dale provides customers with strategic and operational guidance to align technical solutions with long-term business priorities. Dale has broad and extensive experience in the Microsoft solution stack and holds numerous Microsoft technical certifications including two MCSEs (SharePoint and Private Cloud), an MCSA, and multiple MCITPs in technologies ranging from Dynamics CRM, Project Server, SQL Server, and.net.
Contact your Geocent sales representative today to schedule a discussion about how a LASER could benefit your business! 1-800-218-9009 facebook.com/geocent linkedin.com/company/geocent twitter.com/geocent sales@geocent.com Visit our website at www.geocent.com/whitepapers to view more.