Tag: SharePoint

Information architecture framework: a blueprint for records management 

Posted by on in Information Architecture, Records Management, SharePoint

10 Feb 2023 – Metataxis supports public heritage organisation deploy SharePoint records management system.

Metataxis is delighted to be working with a national heritage organisation to deliver a comprehensive information architecture framework.

This UK public body wanted to roll out SharePoint as their new records management system and were looking for ways to do this as efficiently as possible.

Following a search on G-Cloud for providers who offer this kind of support, the organisation was delighted to discover that Metataxis could meet their requirements, having successfully worked with the team on a previous project. Based on this positive past experience, Metataxis was thrilled to be selected as the partner of choice to develop an information architecture framework in order to help to shape and support the successful delivery of this SharePoint project.

This new information architecture framework will provide a clear blueprint for the organisation’s Microsoft 365 tenant and will ensure consistency across all sites. 

Having a framework in place also provides opportunities to reuse existing information architecture designs which will in turn reduce duplication of effort and help to make the task of scaling up much easier.

Comments Noeleen Schenk, Director at Metataxis: “We are recognised for our records management and information governance expertise. Combined with our knowledge and experience of working with G-Cloud-13 services, Metataxis is well-positioned to support all public sector organisations manage and secure their data and collection of records in line with government policies. We are really looking forward to working with this organisation; they have a great in-house team and we think we will complement their skills well.”

The project commenced earlier this month and is due to be completed in March 2023.

Read more about our records management services.

If you would like to learn more about how we help both public sector organisations and private businesses address the challenges of information architecture and data retention and management, simply contact us.

Mitigate risk with SharePoint records management training

Posted by on in Information Governance, Information Management

10 Feb 2023 – Metataxis delivers Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Records Management training course in partnership with training experts, Leadership Through Data.

Once again, Metataxis is pleased be presenting the Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Records Management course, in partnership with Leadership Through Data.

Designed and delivered by Records Managers for Records Managers, this comprehensive training course explores the information governance features of Microsoft 365, including licencing and information architecture requirements to support information governance.

This “all you need to know” Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Records Management course is delivered by Metataxis Senior Consultant, Siobhan King. With her specialist background in records management and information governance, this course will help students to improve their SharePoint record management skills and strengthen information governance across their organisation.

Siobhan explains: “It’s always fun teaching this course because with Microsoft things never stay still for very long. This means there are always new things to teach and learn in every session! Upon course completion, students will know how to design, configure and implement Microsoft 365 to get the most of the features, mitigate risk and gain a better understanding how to protect the valuable information created and shared by colleagues on a daily basis.”

This virtual training course is delivered over 4 half days and all attendees will achieve 12 CPD credits. It’s a very popular course and is now fully booked, however it will available again in in April, June, September and November this year.

Learn more and book your place now! 

20 years ago today, part 3: The evolution of SharePoint

Posted by on in Compliance Centre, Information Architecture, Metadata, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, UncategorizedLeave a comment

This blog is a continuation of a series of reminiscences and predictions on all things
information management, to celebrate 20 years of Metataxis.

Once upon a time, there was a new Microsoft software package called “SharePoint Portal Server 2001”. Only a few organisations had it, and it was of course on-premise, not in the cloud. It wasn’t until SharePoint 2003 came along that organisations started to notice this complex and powerful software platform. Many versions and twenty years later we now have the all conquering Microsoft 365. Such deep and all consuming functionality that I sometimes wonder that it might take over everything…  

What’s involved in a SharePoint health check?

Posted by on in Information Architecture, Information Governance, SharePoint, Uncategorized
SharePoint Health Check

Many organisations think that Office 365/SharePoint deployment and configuration is both simple and quick only to find the reality quite different once the system is used in anger.  But a well-timed health check of SharePoint can save a lot a pain and stress down the road.

When to do a health check

A health check can be done at any stage of SharePoint implementation for many different purposes. For instance a health check may be done during a pilot or pathfinder exercise to check that the project is going in the right direction. Or the health check may be used for older implementations that may be experiencing issues for the purpose of root cause analysis.

It’s not just about the technology

The technical configuration of your Office 365/SharePoint system is important, but so too is how your information is organised within your implementation. Failing to understand your information management needs is often overlooked in Office 365/SharePoint deployments which can result in expensive, unusable, or even a failed system. We recommend any health check considers ongoing information management as well as the technical management.

What a health check should cover

With that in mind we recommend a SharePoint health check should consider both standard areas of functionality as well as information governance, management and strategies. The health check should consider the following aspects though depending on how SharePoint is configured may want more attention on some areas than others.

  • High-level Office 365 configuration
  • Site collection and site architecture
  • User permissions and user access model
  • Content types and columns
  • Term sets
  • Search configuration
  • Libraries, views and folder configuration
  • Navigation and high-level user interface
  • Usability and look and feel
  • Information governance and policies
  • Training and support
  • Culture and change management

Who should do the health check

Ideally a neutral third party should conduct a health check, so they can provide an independent and impartial assessment of the system. The third party may be a person or team within your organisation that has not been heavily involved in implementation. That internal resource would need to have the skills and expertise to complete a thorough health check. Alternatively external resource with the skills and experience may be contracted to do the work. The benefit of getting a health check from a skilled professional is assurance of quality of work as well as the ability to provide results quickly and accurately.

Metataxis SharePoint health checks

Metataxis can provide independent health check of your Microsoft 365 and/or SharePoint deployment to discover potential problems before they become actual problems. The Metataxis team has the unique skills and experience to bridge the world of technology and information management, to provide a unified and thorough analysis. Metataxis has a simple health check methodology that provides quick results. This is based on the many implementations we have worked on.

  • Analyse: A Metataxis consultant conducts an audit of your Office 365/SharePoint environment.
  • Document: The consultant documents their findings to produce an organisation specific set of recommendations.
  • Review: The consultant discusses the recommendations with the organisation, refining them as required.
  • Support: Follow-up advice is available via email or phone after the delivery of the recommendations.

We can scale any health check to the requirements of your organisation and point you in the right direction to give you the right information governance, architecture and strategy to help you on your way.  Get in touch with us today to talk using the contact form on the right.

Free webinar series offered with Leadership Through Data

Posted by on in Company, Information ArchitectureLeave a comment

Free webinars with Leadership Through Data

Metataxis is very pleased to be participating in a series of free webinars offered by Leadership Through Data (LTD). Metataxis Technical Director, Marc Stephenson will be talking about Information Architecture at 13:00 on the 4th of November 2021. The session is called Design of Information Architecture within Microsoft 365 & SharePoint where Marc will be discussing one of the most important but sometimes least understood aspects of ensuring a successful Microsoft 365 roll-out.

An information architecture is a crucial initial step to the successful implementation of any information system. You wouldn’t start building a house with an architecture and the same logic applies to building a system. A good information architecture requires that content, technology, people, business requirements, and cultural factors are all considered at the same time. To find out more about this you can book here.

This is just one of a series of exciting free webinars LTD are providing over the coming months. Focusing on topics relating to Microsoft 365 and Information Management, these webinars draw on the broad expertise of the trainers and partners working with LTD. This means that there are some fantastic opportunities to about anything from training methods with LTD Managing Director Jacqueline Stockwell, to hearing about the latest releases from M365 MVP Sara Fennah. A list of some of the webinars are listed below:

Or you can visit the Leadership Through Data site for a full list of webinars on offer.

 

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