SharePoint is a complex technology that provides companies with an extensive set of tools and work methods. With a correct implementation and use, SharePoint ensures business data collection, storage and processing in order to identify important information for decision making.

1. SIGNS YOUR COMPANY HAS A BAD SHAREPOINT IMPLEMENTATION
SharePoint is a complex technology that provides companies with an extensive set of tools and work
methods. With a correct implementation and use, SharePoint ensures business data collection,
storage and processing in order to identify important information for decision making.
This is why I think it’s very important for a company to keep an eye on the signs of a bad SharePoint
implementation:
 Incorrect and incomplete understanding of SharePoint
The most common problem of SharePoint implementations is related to the way companies
approach the product. SharePoint is considered by many companies a presentation website or a
document collaboration tool, transforming a relatively expensive and complex solution into a server
for storing files.
 Deficient SharePoint pilot project
Pilot projects allow companies to test different document management solutions in their own
environment in order to decide which is the most appropriate for their need. Most times, pilot
projects are developed directly in the production environment, and they are designed to respond to
short-time business needs. Thus, in a short while, companies realize that they need to migrate to a
more professional architecture. Any migration raises its own issues and related costs. For example,
the average price of a migration from one infrastructure to another is around 900 - 1000 USD per
GB.
 Incorrect services configuration
SharePoint Server is based on interdependent services, which may cause malfunctions if they are not
correctly configured. Even though most SharePoint implementation strategies are based on
providing a limited set of features that will be activated gradually, companies must consider these
aspects from the beginning of any SharePoint implementation. The most common issues generated
by incorrect configuration disturb the Search and User Profiles functionalities.
 Too much programming
SharePoint is a product created to support businesses. It incorporates enough built-in tools and
features that can be customized to effectively meet the best practices in document, project,
activities and events management. However, often times, programmers use code to create solutions
for new business needs. This method may be efficient, but it was found that in most cases, coding
causes errors in the process of migrating SharePoint to other versions or platforms.

2.  Deficient integration with other systems
SharePoint is a technology solution interconnected with over IT solutions and services used within
companies – data bases, authentication services, email clients, security, monitoring and reporting
services. Often times, deficient configurations of these integrations cause interoperability issues –
lack of email alerts, failure in delivering emails to document libraries, failure to correctly visualize the
organizational chart, files or reports etc.
 High support requirements
Users tend to use SharePoint in the most common and well known way, as they see and learn from
their colleagues. Self-learning is not the same for all employees and in most cases it requires a lot of
time, which in the end will generate significant costs. When the number of incidents reported to
support teams involve more and more questions about SharePoint usage, companies’ management
should consider an internal SharePoint training program.
 Slow user adoption
In most cases, SharePoint is pushed by IT with backing from management. But, as I mentioned
before, SharePoint is a solution based on end users experience. Thus, when users are first exposed
to SharePoint they may feel intimidated by its complexity. A good SharePoint implementation
strategy involves special training for employees that companies have to take into consideration from
the beginning. Also, companies could decide to release functionalities gradually, and breaking down
the feature rollout into small pieces will generate faster user adoption.
Valy Greavu
Senior Sharepoint Consultant, IT Green Light
ABOUT IT GREEN LIGHT
IT Green Light is an IT consultancy company, focusing mainly on special IT projects and technologies.
Headquartered in Romania, the company develops IT projects worldwide through its offices in
Munchen and Dubai. For over 10 years, IT Green Light designs and implements collaboration
solutions, business intelligence, corporate intelligence and knowledge management solutions.
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