Extending Sharepoint Technologies towards Project Management Capabilities

Modern groupware systems serve as universal information sharing platforms by providing manifold capabilities for customization and extension of their core functionalities. In this paper we introduce a set of extension modules that were developed in the context of the ‘Distribution networks Relationship Management’ (DRM) project2 to support distribution networks of industrial small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in terms of project management and advanced group awareness mechanisms. These interoperable modules tackle the specific requirements of SMEs particularly with regard to ease of use and flexibility. Our software development bases upon the collaboration platform product ‘Windows Sharepoint Services’ by Microsoft [5]. Thereby we also exemplarily demonstrate the general flexibility of enhancing this particular groupware system by custom functionality.