How do you eat an elephant? A summary of the SharePoint Evolution Conference in Manchester, UK

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to summarize five presentations at the SharePoint Evolution Conference, held in Manchester, UK (16 June 2014). This was day 6 of a 12-day road-show across UK cities, and the four key themes included were technical, end user, business and product integration. Design/methodology/approach – This article reports from the viewpoint of a first-time attendee of the conference. This summarizes the main issues raised by each presentation, and draws out the key learning points for practical situations. Findings – The conference covered major SharePoint issues, like how to build a knowledge-sharing culture, how to manage a major IT project and the new functionality offered by SharePoint 2013. The sessions included demonstrations of new functionality, discussions of intangible aspects like culture and reflections on IT upgrades and projects. Originality/value – This conference emphasized the importance of involving businesses in key decisions regarding SharePoint implementation and change. While SharePoint 2013 offers many new technical opportunities for librarians and information professionals, business involvement is critical to ensuring the success of knowledge-sharing cultures.