Question: How many SharePoint consultants does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Answer: How many can you afford?

Joe Mack, a veteran of more than 80 SP engagements, doesn't fit that stereotype. If a $99 plug-in makes sense, he's the first to admit it. Clients have actually heard him say, ‘Why pay us? You can take care of this in-house.’

Regardless of the knowledge sharing platform they use, IT and business people appreciate Joe’s common sense. He’s passionate about the Microsoft system but doesn't shy away from market realities ('SharePoint is oversold almost 100% of the time’) and myths (‘No, it doesn’t work right out of the box. The system’s only as good as the metadata.’)

On this episode of Collaboration Pizza, Joe describes the one thing every planning team, no matter how well aligned, fights over. He explains why pain is the project manager’s best friend. He talks about the best and worst ways to manage SharePoint consulting costs and retain control over your own system. And he shares a couple of tips on how to probe for both technical skills and overall effectiveness when interviewing a consultant. (Added bonus: Joe’s radical proposition for reengineering the National Football League playoffs.)

Joe Mack, an “Enterprise Microsoft Solutions Senior Manager” at Sogeti., lives in Indianapolis with his perfect wife and two children. He has 12 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience as a consultant, developer, project manager and knowledge management evangelist. Joe graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Economics and served in the army for eight years. Check out his blog: www.themackpage.com.