Social Computing with Microsoft Sharepoint 2007: Implementing Applications for Sharepoint to Enable Collaboration and Interaction in the Enterprise

This is an excellent introduction to often overlooked capabilities of SharePoint Server 2007. SharePoint is one of Microsoft's fastest growing enterprise platforms. It is a very cool, very capable environment. Social computing brings to mind Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and a host of other services that are almost immediately perceived by many as the realm of kids, adolescents and young adults. In fact, the 35 and older demographic is the fastest growing segment of the social computing audience. Thus, this book has at least two objectives: first to explain social computing to people who may not yet grasp its implications within the enterprise itself and, second to show how social networking technologies can be implemented within SharePoint. In 12 chapters, the authors walk the reader through the underlying concepts of social computing and then the details of the mechanisms like content tagging, wikis, blogs, RSS, how social networking and SharePoint 2007 can be brought together, podcasting, mashups before moving into broader areas of the technology now and in the future. The authors write in a down-to-earth, conversational tone which aids comprehension. They speak of the technology without making it confusing or incomprehensible. But the reader must bear in mind that this book is intended to be an overview, not a highly detailed technical treatise. Many subjects (i.e., AJAX) receive only a light dusting. Close attention is paid to introducing the concept within the enterprise where there will undoubtedly be many nay-sayers who have to be overcome. It is wise advice. Overall, the authors are to be commended on their novel thinking with regard to social computing in the enterprise environment. Choosing SharePoint as a platform is also a great idea - it is far better than trying to describe separate platforms and technologies to implement each concept. Throughout, the authors keep the focus on the enterprise, pointing out the benefits: a smart move on their part, One of the chapters that particularly impressed me was on podcasting in the enterprise: many large businesses have slashed their spending on distribution of training through the use of podcasts, both audio and audio/video. Some big outfits have purchased thousands of players for their employees because it is less expensive than pulling employees together for classes. In all, this book may strike some business network administrators as being off the beaten path and it is. But it covers some very important territory and may spark some equally important creative thinking about social computing in the enterprise. Jerry

This book deals with the emerging world of enterprise social computing using Microsoft SharePoint 2007 out-of-the-box capabilities and custom solutions. Many organizations have invested in the SharePoint platform for ECM and collaboration. SharePoint 2007 offers many out-of-the-box tools that enable social computing, but in order to provide real value it is important to understand the basics of business information architecture and how these tools fit into the overall strategy of your company. This book does a fantastic job of addressing the importance of aligning business goals with technology in order to roll out successful, effective, social computing applications. It is not a technology for the sake of technology type of book, and provides some great real-world business cases for implementing some of these social computing pieces of SharePoint. The goal of enterprise social computing is to help the business achieve its goals and the authors have done a fantastic job of breaking it down into relevant topics that you can apply in your environment.

This is an awesome book that deals with, among other topics, the much overlooked topic of social computing *within the enterprise*. For organizations that have invested in the SharePoint platform for ECM and collaboration it's a must read. SharePoint 2007 offers a lot of out-of-the-box tools that enable social computing, but in order to provide real value it's important to understand the basics of business information architecture and how these tools fit into the overall collaborative strategy of your company. This is the essence of enterprise social computing and the authors have done an incredible job of breaking it down into clear and relevant topics that you can immediately apply in your own environment.