SharePoint & The User Experience

31 May 2014

Presenting Today:

Scott Jackson & Guy Stuhlmiller

The ProblemSharePoint is not always well received by the users

This lack of adoption makes users use the software grudgingly, or find ways to circumvent the system

The SolutionFind out what the users need and deliver it. Treat SharePoint the same way you treat awebsite or other software project

Branding is important. People will judge a system by what they see as well as how it works

To Make a Better ExperienceUnderstand the Existing Process

Analysis – What is the Best Way?

Design the User Experience

Measure the Results

This is NOT a full software design process. We are focusing on the User Experience.

RolesUX Designer

Developer

Business Analyst

Understand the Existing ProcessWhat are best practices for understanding the “What is”?

Interviews

Technical analysis

The existing environment

Documentation

Analysis – What is the Best Way?Users limit their expectations

The best question to ask: “In a perfect world, how would you do that?”

Present mock ups or similar concepts

Understand the technical environment

Design the User ExperienceDesign the flow of the system first

Keep documentation minimal – but it has to tell a story

Engage the users. Designing in a bubble doesn’t work

Limit coding. It makes you defensive when you have to throw away work.

Use the right tools – Wireframes / User Stories

SharePoint is a WebsiteImagine a WordPress or similar out of box website

You can use JavaScript, JQuery, and CSS

Go Outside the BoxMost things aren’t impossible: they just take time (often too much time)

If you are saying “No”, ask yourself why

Measure the ResultsMeasure the results

Get feedback – constantly

Create a database of user requests and bugs

PANDA – A Case StudyA Lotus Notes application needed to be ported to SharePoint 2010

The project initially calls for a direct feature-by-feature move

The users were not happy with the existing system, so that would not go in the right direction

This case study is used with permission from Bayer CropScience Inc.

To Make a Better ExperienceUnderstand the existing process

Analysis – What is the Best Way?

Design the user experience

Measure the results

Understand the Existing ProcessThrough interviews, a list of Likes and Dislikes was created

Gaining access to the system let us understand and document the existing process

Analysis – What is the Best Way?Introducing concepts that are common to everyone

“Search Works Like Google”

Creating user stories

Analysis – What is the Best Way?

Design the User ExperienceA look and feel that fits their brand

No coding yet!

Design the User Experience

Getting into CSSPixel Perfect

Cross Browser Compatibility

Heather Solomon’s Website

JavaScript and the SharePoint APIMaking a better search

JavaScript and SharePoint get along very well

Technical hurdles

Panda – The Final Main Page

Measure the ResultsFollow up discussions with users

Tracking the usage of the website

Bug/Feature tracking system

Questions?

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Special Thanks

SharePoint Training Courseshttp://www.neweratechnology.com/courses/sharepoint.aspx

Calgary SharePoint User Group

CalSPUG

Housekeeping

Join us for SharePint

Time: 4:15 PM – 6:00 PMLocation: TBD