Welcome to the AIIM SharePoint Community and to my Expert Blog. I have to say, I am a little uncomfortable with the whole “Expert” thing, but I will try to live up to the connotation. I think that there is much to discuss, consider and challenge with respect to SharePoint in general and specifically with respect to ECM on SharePoint. I am excited to be serving in this role, and I am honored to share this arena with my fellow bloggers, the AIIM staff members and other members of this community.
I have been around technology for a long time, so when I was asked to introduce myself, I wasn’t sure where to start. I decided not to start at all. By that I mean, no chronology of accomplishments, failed attempts and projects I wish I had never seen. Instead, I want you to know three things about me. I was trained as a chemist, I once owned and operated a cabinet shop / interior renovation business and I have been employed for over 30 years as a systems developer. I chose these three things for three reasons. First, these have all been lifelong interests of mine. Beginning with my Gilbert Chemistry set , helping my dad renovate our house and a summer school FORTRAN class in 1967, my first exposure to these disciplines ignited a continuing desire to know more about them. Second, they all involve problem solving and building things that don’t yet exist but which are theoretically possible and third, they all relate to SharePoint.
You need to take my word for the first two reasons, but let me explain how these things relate to SharePoint. SharePoint is an empty shell that needs to be built out to satisfy customer requirements. Similarly, systems need to be developed to meet customer requirements; furniture and cabinets need to be built to satisfy requirements and chemical processes are designed with specific objectives in mind. Solutions in all of these areas need to be sustainable, so once the requirements and objectives are understood, plans are made and a process begins. In chemistry, the process involves the Scientific Method. In woodworking, it involves time honored joinery, and systems development still proceeds through design, development and testing, just as it was in 1967. It should come as no surprise that my work with SharePoint is guided by the problem solving techniques I trust, and a healthy respect for practices which have stood the test of time.
I am not sure that a life spent planning, building, testing and delivering things makes me an expert. I am sure that my experience has given me a certain insight, and I rely on that insight when I decide what technologies our company should use. That insight tells me that some of the approaches to and uses of SharePoint that I read about are good things and some are not. I am a fan of SharePoint, but I am not a zealot; you can expect a mixed bag of advice, commentary and questions from me.
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