December, 2007

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, New Management tool

SharePoint Server 2007 is the latest business management and collaboration tool from Microsoft. The new tools provide many features, according to the Microsoft website: “Office SharePoint Server 2007 is a new server program that is part of the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Your organization can use Office SharePoint Server 2007 to facilitate collaboration, provide content management features, implement business processes, and supply access to information that is essential to organizational goals and processes.”

I am not familiar with the SharePoint Server 2007, nor do I think I will be using it any time soon, but I decided to familiarize myself with this new server from Microsoft as it is…..well ”new” and as a manager in an IT firm, its my duty to stay informed about new technologies in the field.

Don’t confuse Office SharePoint Server 2007 with Windows SharePoint Services:

If you have heard about Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, you may wonder how it relates to Office SharePoint Server 2007. Windows SharePoint Services is a technology that is included in Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Windows SharePoint Services helps teams stay connected and productive by providing easy access to the people, documents, and information that they need to make well-informed decisions and the facilitation of work flow to complete projects.

Office SharePoint Server 2007 relies on the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 technology to provide a consistent, familiar framework for lists and libraries, site administration, and site customization. Any features that are available in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 are also available in Office SharePoint Server 2007.
However, Office SharePoint Server 2007 offers enhanced and additional features that are unavailable on a Windows SharePoint Services site. For example, both Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services include site templates for collaborating with colleagues and setting up meetings. However, Office SharePoint Server 2007 includes a number of additional site templates that are related to enterprise and publishing scenarios. Similarly, Office SharePoint Server 2007 enhances the search technology from Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 to include features that are useful for employees in large organizations, such as the ability to search for business data in SAP, Siebel, and other business applications.

Most parts of the above articles were adapted from Microsoft website at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/HA101732171033.aspx

As busy professionals, we may not always have the time to keep up with the latest developments in our fields; I thought it would be worthwhile for my readers to get a brief summary of a new technology.

The importance of understanding cultures

In this article I write about my current work with the Small IT firm.

One of the most challenging aspects of my job is writing and managing contracts. The importance of signing a contact varies among different cultures. In the United States and other developed countries, a contract is usually honored by all parties and it’s a means of protection for both the employee and the employer. A written contract means peace of mind for all involved and should be designed to prevent future conflicts, which in turn will affect job performance.
Depending on the differing cultures you are dealing with, so too will the negotiations leading to a written contract differ. Not every culture places the same emphasis on contracts and the terms and conditions of those contracts.
I began this job with a three month contract, which concluded a month ago; I started with a low salary on the promise that if I turn the firm around, I will take a part of the profit. The firm is now well positioned to make a profit and play a bigger role in the local market. It was time for me to re-negotiate a long term contract that stated my responsibilities and benefits in clear terms.

I have been trying for over two weeks to setup a meeting with the major stake holders within the firm, to begin contract negotiations. I wanted to clearly state my objectives and have a written assurance of my rights and obligations. As of writing this article, I haven’t received any positive response regardless of my repeated requests, and as a manager, and as a professional, the current status must be resolved, I must take the initiative to make a decision.
Before I discuss the decision I am contemplating, I must go over some cultural norms that are prevalent in Saudi Arabia. I want you to bare in mind, that I am sharing “my” experience and for others, their experience may have been completely different. This is not a general rule but should serve as a guideline when dealing with this culture.

1- Most decision making processes take a very long time, even with minor issues, and for someone like me who is used to thinking on his feet, this seems such a waste of time.

2- People here in general are very sensitive about criticism, even if it’s constructive criticism, and again for someone like me who likes to “tell it like it is”, this represents a dilemma.

3- In general, management gets very excited about new ideas and projects, only to find out that half way through the project that they lose interest, after so much time and effort being invested.

4- Time seems of little value here and the phrase “time is money” is not always applicable and what is not finished today can wait till tomorrow.

5- A signed contract is not always honored and the contract term could change at any time without prior notice.

My experience is meant to serve as a good starting point towards understanding the work culture and ethic in this region of the world. For many managers, including myself, working under these conditions is unacceptable and would be more than enough reason to say NO.