SharePoint Collaboration Group Minutes, January 12, 2009
*Attending*
Mike Grady, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign (Chair)
Alan Walsh, Indiana University
Rahul Doshi, Indiana University
Ann West, Internet2
Dean Woodbeck, Internet2
*Review of SharePoint Collaboration Group*
As a result of the last conference call, the collaboration group conducted a short survey to determine its direction. The survey addressed whether this SharePoint collaboration, as currently constituted, addresses a broad community challenge; whether the scope should be altered; or if the calls should be suspended until the topic is more pressing.
There were 13 responses to the survey and six indicated the scope should be expanded to include a review and discussion of general collaboration tools in federated environments. As there are other efforts focused on the collaboration space, this would need to be coordinated and scoped appropriately.
In order to continue the SharePoint collaboration, the group would like to have use cases and case studies to demonstrate how SharePoint can be federated, but there just aren't many to be found. There is general interest in SharePoint but the specific needs for federating the software are lacking beyond three examples:
• the NIH PIONet application
• the potential use of SharePoint at the CIC
• the work being done at the University of Texas system office (and a plug-in being developed with 9Star).
*Conclusion*
It was decided to suspend the SharePoint Collaboration Group until there is more demand for federated SharePoint. Dean Woodbeck will work with Mike Grady and Paul Caskey to get short case studies written up and posted to the wiki; and he will work with Mike to add a note on the wiki and email list about the outcome of the discussion.