Implementing a SharePoint 2010 Intranet

I was asked to point someone in the direction of a website that had the high level steps for implementing a SharePoint 2010 Intranet recently. After a little digging I found nothing that said what I felt needed to be said at the right level. So, I wrote the bullets myself, and am posting here in the hope they'll be useful.

1. Preparation
2. Implementation
3. Training
4. Launch
5. Iteration
6. Support and Monitoring

1. Preparation

• Requirements Workshops
• Formulate Intranet Vision Statement
• Work on Application Design to meet the Requirements and Vision
• Design an Information Architecture suitable for the Design
• Plan Permissions and Security
• Formulate Architecture for expected operations, loads, and future extensibility
• Agree and commission Visual Design
• Validate above steps with the business
• Use Intranet Vision Statement to formulate a Governance Policy with the business and IT
• Plan End User Adoption strategy for use from Training phase onwards (this informs training, launch, support and monitoring)

2. Implementation

• Purchase Hardware and Software
• Install and Configure SharePoint
• Perform further configuration and Development to meet the user requirements
• Validate and stress test the install

3. Training

• Common SharePoint training for all Users
• Administrative training for Admins
• Power User Training for key individuals
• Outline roles and responsibilities as per Governance plan
• Provide online on-demand training resources long term

4. Launch

• Launch the product to a subset of the organisation
• Provide carrots to encourage use of the new system
• Promote trust and confidence in the new way of working
• Put the Governance plan into effect
• Encourage use of the available functionality whenever it offers benefits over the old way of working.

5. Iteration

• Bring further teams and functionality into the Intranet in bite sized chunks.
• Allow Power Users to "roll their own" functionality if the Governance Policy allows it.

6. Support and Monitoring

• Ensure tiered support is available from knowledgeable power users, user forums and discussion boards, and full on technical support
• Monitor usage of the Intranet to identify problems / unexpected lack of use
• Monitor Search terms to tune Search for best effect
• Promote the new platform for a significant period after launch
• Send newsletters promoting new functionality / Publicise success stories