SharePoint Consulting
Built a SharePoint Consulting Service from the Ground Up and Led Organization-Wide Adoption
Overview
When I joined the organization, SharePoint was a brand-new tool being rolled out to improve collaboration, organize information, and evolve internal processes. There was no service model, no governance, no training, and no internal expertise.
Under the initial coaching of Susan Hanley, I built the SharePoint service from the ground up and became the organization’s first SharePoint subject matter expert, leading the adoption, design, and operationalization of SharePoint across hundreds of users and dozens of teams.
The Challenge
- SharePoint was newly introduced and had no existing architecture or service model
- Teams lacked structure for organizing information or managing content
- No training resources, governance, or support channels existed
- Internal websites had usability issues and inconsistent design
- Migrations required detailed testing and troubleshooting
- The organization needed a scalable, sustainable way to use SharePoint to improve collaboration
The organization needed someone to establish the service, lead adoption, and ensure SharePoint became a reliable, user‑friendly platform for the entire organization.
Approach
My approach centered on education, quick wins, practical use cases, and continuous user engagement. I built the SharePoint service from scratch, designed team sites, trained users, and created processes that strengthened collaboration across the organization.
01
Established the SharePoint Service & Became the SME
Served as the organization’s first SharePoint subject matter expert, providing strategic guidance to teams and leadership. Defined service standards and best practices, built governance and support processes, and advised teams on how to use SharePoint to solve operational challenges. This laid the foundation for organization-wide adoption.
02
Designed SharePoint Team Sites to Solve Business Problems
Configured and designed SharePoint sites tailored to each team’s workflows and challenges. Architected content structures, streamlined processes through site design, built workflow solutions, and improved operational efficiency across multiple departments. These sites became essential tools for collaboration and information management.
03
Delivered High-Quality User Support Across the Organization
Supported hundreds of users with everything from routine questions to complex architectural needs. Helped teams organize information, built workflows and lists, resolved issues quickly to prevent disruptions, and provided guidance on content management and permissions. This support strengthened trust and accelerated adoption.
04
Led Organization-Wide SharePoint Adoption
Drove organizational adoption through communication, training, and hands-on support. Partnered with teams to integrate SharePoint into daily work, encouraged consistent use of team sites, and improved collaboration and communication. SharePoint became a core part of how teams worked together.
05
Conducted Usability Studies & Improved Internal Websites
Evaluated the intranet site for usability. Identified navigation issues and content gaps, provided actionable recommendations, and improved the user experience. This ensured SharePoint communication sites were intuitive and easy to use.
06
Developed Training Programs & Resources
Created a full training ecosystem to support users at all skill levels, including in-person and online courses, monthly meetings, a monthly SharePoint newsletter, knowledge base articles, and step-by-step guides and best practices. These resources boosted proficiency among hundreds of users.
07
Executed Testing & Supported Migrations
Conducted detailed testing for SharePoint migrations and environment changes. Identified and resolved off-hours migration issues, ensured smooth transitions with minimal workflow disruption, and collaborated with IT to validate system stability. This protected productivity and reduced risk.
Results
- Built the organization’s SharePoint service from the ground up
- Became its first SharePoint SME and trusted advisor
- Improved collaboration and communication across teams
- Delivered training that increased proficiency among hundreds of users
- Designed team sites that streamlined workflows and solved operational challenges
- Strengthened the usability of internal websites
- Ensured smooth migrations through detailed testing and issue resolution
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