SharePoint as enabler for collaboration and efficient project knowledge sharing

Abstract

Background: Cutting-edge web technology applications have improved the manner in which business is conducted, allowing organisations to deliver business projects effectively. There is an untapped potential to power up SharePoint as a business application platform for content management, knowledge sharing and collaboration within organisations.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine how SharePoint enables a retailer to share knowledge, collaborate and manage its content and to investigate the value brought by SharePoint to the organisation.

Methods: An interview schedule was used to collect data in order to help determine what the SharePoint users’ needs are and whether they are being met using SharePoint. Two developers of SharePoint in the organisation and a further 10 users of SharePoint were selected to determine if the application of SharePoint is meeting the users’ needs. The findings of the interview schedule were analysed through a descriptive content analysis with the support of Atlas.ti as a qualitative data analysis research tool.

Results: The research findings indicated that the platform does help employees in various ways, mostly enabling them to cut down on the time wasted in doing unnecessary tasks, such as manually creating projects by going to stores to collect performance reports. It also enabled the employees to effectively share business project reports and helped the organisations to project manage effectively.

Conclusion: SharePoint has benefited the retailer tremendously, ensuring improved productivity through real-time access to information as a result of improved collaboration and project-related knowledge sharing. Findings further indicate the need for knowledge management practices through the platform.