Monday, May 19, 2008

Architecting Business Application in Sharepoint world

Sharepoint(MOSS 2007) is latest offering from Microsoft. Every one who is significant in business seems to have a inclination to go with it now or in near future. Here are few points related to Business application in Sharepoint.

Why Sharepoint?
The capablity of the application to evolve with the business requirement through configration only is superb. The benefits sharepoint brings on table for managing the unstructured data are too much to ignore it. Your manager like it, His manager like it and you too will like it once you start managing people(just joking!).

The process of the organization in which innovation through new technologies and business models can provide competitive advantage are in domain of Sharepoint.


Golden Rules
1)Sharepoint is for un structured data. LOB application and ERP are there for structured process. (click here to see bigger picture)



(click here to see bigger picture)



2) Plug in sharepoint for all un structured process in organization. Target all the process where innovation is posible and value can be added by changing the process.

3) Identifiy the un structured process part in the LOB and ERP and plug in sharepoint to manage the un structured part. Leave the optimized business process which are matured to LOB application and ERP.

Why Not sharepoint for matured Business Process.
1) Off self application address the needs better by confirming to industry standards. The overall cost of software for matured process is low via off self application.

2)Database fetures like stored procedure, trigger, seperate tables , Master Detail tables relationship, functions, column level security, performance is better utilised by off self application.

3) Reporting features are better in Off the self application.

Why sharepoint for Unstructured Business Process.
1) New approches, models, innovation can be incorporated in application on demand by configration in sharepoint. Organization can develope competative advantage by adopting new ways.

2) Sharepoint can evolve to business need in quick turn around time. In fact Business user can configure the application without need of IT people.

3) Content of Unstructured Business Process will be digitalised. This is huge advantage for the organization. Unstructured Business Process will always there in organization.

How does sharepoint add value?.
1)Provides intutive plateform to digitilise all your unstructured process. The process can be tailored by business people by configration. Employess can try new model, Innovate new ways to improve the process.

2)Security: Every thing is secured. Permission can be set right from higher level to item level. No glitches. Audit reports are welcome add in

3)Engineers @microsoft are evolving the application. Expect tons of functionality in to be added in next version.

When to develop business application in sharepoint.
1) There is need to try different model, process.

2) Every thing else is on Sharepoint.

3) Work flows are part and parcel of Business application.

How to develop business application in sharepoint.
1)Workflow will have maximum code(State machine).

2) Use custom SQL server Tables, Infopath and BDC to read, write data. Donot store business data in list.

3) See Microsoft implementations.

Questions:
1) How to develop business application in sharepoint.
2) Where to store data? in sharepoint list or busness database tables.
3) Will all business application will be ported to sharepoint.


Learn about composite application

Thursday, May 15, 2008

architecture

http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/7/9/379836a8-8738-4eef-9fc9-b3e047c18f5e/OBA_Building-Composite-Applications-Using-the-MS-platform.zip

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Thinkweek: Microsoft uses SharePoint

intresting observation from Bill Gate himself
...
For example, each year I do something called ThinkWeek where anybody in the company can submit a paper about an idea they have to change the way our company works or to pursue a new development project. We used to rely primarily on printed documents, but now it's simple for us to create a Web site to manage the entire process. This year, more than 350 papers were submitted. Not only did I read and comment on many of them, but other technical leaders from across the company were able to go up to the ThinkWeek Web site and add their thoughts. This has led to many lively discussions and started numerous new projects, something that was much harder to do when everything was on paper
read...
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102402071033.aspx