Collaboration

Challenge

The ability for individuals to work together effectively is an essential component of an organization’s success. However, effective collaboration can be complex and challenging, and can be a significant stumbling block for groups of all sizes and levels of experience. Teams frequently lack an organizational framework for projects, and often do not know where relevant information is stored, or even which version of a document or data set is current. Often maintaining a concise, centralized view of core information such as scheduling data, current knowledge, risks and deliverables can be a daunting task in an organization not equipped to meet these types of needs.

Solution

The Microsoft Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution leverages Windows SharePoint® Services version 3.0, and provides a comprehensive suite of collaboration tools suited to any organization. When combined with the powerful features of Microsoft® Office Project Server 2007, the result is a dynamic, yet easy to use system for maximizing collaboration effectiveness. The further addition of Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007 produces a set of tools for gracefully managing complex team environments.

Provide a Framework for Collaboration

Windows SharePoint Services combines critical data into a central location through the creation of live, interactive portals that assemble and display information from a wide variety of sources. Project data, documents and contacts can be found quickly and easily within Project Workspaces and accessed securely via intranet or extranet. Decisions can be made on the latest information, because team members have a central location for finding the information they need, when they need it. Built-in version control helps manage the document collaboration and revision process, ensuring quick access to the most recent copy of all documents, while maintaining previous iterations for reference.

Sensitive data can be shared securely when using Office Project Server 2007 to automatically synchronize team members’ security permissions with each project’s SharePoint site, thus reducing the need for technical administration and enabling all team members to start working immediately.

Integrate Rich Context for Teams

The Microsoft Enterprise Project Management Solution enables collaboration using Office Project Server 2007 to share, project plans and task lists with the team in a familiar, web-based environment. Tasks can be easily linked to issues, risks, documents and deliverables—a powerful tool for harnessing the rich collaboration environment and creating an immediate impact at the “nuts-and-bolts” levels of project teams. Team members can increase their understanding of projects and tasks, as well as readily grasp the project status. All team members can be focused on the same objectives, even when those objectives are changing.

Office Project Server 2007 can combine a set of project plans into a consolidated view enabling high-level visibility around the allocation of people and resources, and allowing this information to be placed within the context of an organization’s project portfolio. This knowledge helps manager determine the possibility of achieving projected timelines and gauge the proper staffing levels.

Supply Advanced Functionality

Office SharePoint Server 2007 rounds out the Microsoft Enterprise Project Management collaboration platform by providing enterprise search capability, information collection via standardized forms, and the ability to broadly share spreadsheets through Excel Services.  Office SharePoint Server 2007 also streamlines collaboration workflows around the creation, editing, approval and publication of Web content, while enabling a consistent look and feel through reusable templates.

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