Real World SharePoint® 2007: Indispensable Experiences from 16 MOSS and WSS MVPs

Introduction

Remember the days when you used to get three books in the box with the CD of your favorite Microsoft product? In those days, it seemed that the scope of a technology could easily be contained within those manuals. Sure, you might buy an extra book, but the expectation was that the majority of required knowledge accompanied the product. Not anymore.

The disappearance of product manuals has been driven by the high cost of printing, demand for shorter product life cycles, and an ever-increasing level of product complexity. It is now commonplace for major Microsoft products to ship with almost no documentation initially. Instead, knowledge is distributed through industry conferences, blogs, wikis, and third-party books. Over time, of course, the online Software Development Kit (SDK) does get revised with better examples, but we are just as likely to read a blog as we are to visit the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN). In short, product documentation has been replaced by a community of technologists working together, innovating, and reviewing content. Though this model can often be frustrating when you are first learning a product or technology, it is incredibly valuable after you understand the fundamentals and are ready to innovate.

Microsoft recognizes key individuals who contribute significantly to the community of technologists through the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award. These individuals are active authors, speakers, bloggers, and innovators. They ...