Abstract
The implementation of web‐based application has increased within various organisation, enabling businesses to improve their productivity through enhanced collaboration, knowledge sharing and business information workflow. However, many users of these applications such as SharePoint still lack the ability to fully utilise them due to inadequate training and poor needs analysis exercised by their organisations. The objective of the study was to determine if the implementation of SharePoint within a retailer met the users’ needs in terms of knowledge sharing, collaboration and content management. As a result it would help determine the manner in which the platform should be enhanced to best suit the users’ needs within the entire retailer. The constructivism nature of this research prompted the use of a qualitative approach, were interview schedules were used to collect data from ten SharePoint users and two developers within a retailer. The evaluation strategy was employed in order to evaluate if the users’ needs of SharePoint within a retailer were met. Data collected was analysed through descriptive content analysis, with the use of Atlas.ti to support the analysis and interpretation of the data. The findings indicated that users were not getting sufficient training on the untapped capability of SharePoint. Those who got the training were able to be more productive in executing the projects and improve their collaboration through sharing business project reports. Findings further indicated that there was poor needs analysis before the platform was implemented, which resulted in other users not fully utilising the platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration and content management. Future research is required to evaluate the needs and specific training requirements of users of SharePoint within the retailer and improve the application of knowledge sharing and content management through SharePoint. Findings further indicated that the need exist to put revised policies and regulations in place in order to secure and protect the knowledge managed within the platform.