Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) offers collaborative workspace functionality for teams and project members. This report describes the key capabilities of WSS, the experience of Ferris Research using WSS, and ends with recommendations for Microsoft and WSS users.

Report 472.

Important Questions Addressed by This Report Include:

• What is the history of Windows SharePoint Services as a collaboration technology from Microsoft?
• What are the key concepts of Windows SharePoint Services that make up the overall architecture of the product?
• How do customers get Windows SharePoint Services?
• How does Windows SharePoint Services fit into Microsoft’s collaboration technology strategy?
• What are the key problematic issues with Windows SharePoint Services?
• What capabilities does Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 add to Windows SharePoint Services?
• What limitation in the SharePoint architecture is only resolved by a third-party add-on?
• What limitations in Windows SharePoint Services are not resolved by Portal Server 2003?
• What are the key actions Microsoft needs to take to shore up the viability of Windows SharePoint Services?

Table of Contents

An Assessment of Windows Sharepoint Services
  Windows SharePoint Services Tutorial
    Key Concepts
    One Element of Microsoft’s Collaboration Strategy
  Major WSS Problems
    Continual Addition of Workspaces: Design Too Basic
    Requires Fast Real-TIme Access
    No Offline Use
    Optimal Experience With Other Microsoft Tools
    Difficult Intrasite Navigation
    No Overall Summary of Changes
    Poor Search Capabilities
    Poor Backup Architecture
  SharePoint Portal Server 2003
  Recommendations for Microsoft
  Recommendations for Users
  Summary