Customizing SharePoint

Of course you can use SharePoint "out of the box," but if you want it to work exactly like you need you are going to have to do some development work. Obviously taking a SharePoint development class is an option you need to consider:)

Another way to help raise the adoption rate of users embracing SharePoint (OK...there really isn't any challenge getting employees to embrace SharePoint because once someone sees it they love it) is adding web parts that are specific to their work. A trainer in the UK has posted an excellent article on how to customize web parts.