Project Management Methodology by Microsoft Sure-Step

Microsoft Dynamics™ Sure Step provides a complete Project Management methodology that includes full discipline and field-tested best practices, plus user-friendly tools that can help you deploy, migrate, configure, and upgrade Microsoft Dynamics™ products.

Microsoft Dynamics™ Sure Step can help reduce risk and guide you through the tasks associated with deployment and configuration of Microsoft Dynamics™ solutions.

In Readiness Solutions we've decided to use this wonderful platform and adjusted it to our specific needs in a meaningful projects, the results were great.

The chosen methodology gives a full step-by-step guidance throughout the all project phases, from the Diagnostic phase to the Operation phase all in order to ensure a successful well planned and controlled IT project.

The Microsoft Dynamics™ Sure Step software also gives you the ability to choose between Standard, Agile, Rapid projects and etc. gives you a full control over your specific project based on your constrains and time table. This platform also gives you the ability to focus your steps and to different between ERP and CRM projects.

The phases of the project are being divided into six main steps: Diagnostic, Analysis, Design, Development, Deployment and Operation.

• Diagnostic- this stage can be adjusted to pre/post-win solution overview. Diagnostic includes several steps that provide an ability to determine a project flow, roadmap, risks, resources & solution structure. The Diagnostic should also be a part of Presales and Sales phases, by delivering very professional tools for evaluating the proposal and therefore, multiplying the probability of win.

• Analysis- the Analysis phase represents the official start of the implementation. This phase defines the activities required to initiate and effectively plan the entire project.

• Design- The goal of the Design phase is to define how the business requirements will be implemented. The phase includes configuration of the overall Microsoft Dynamics™ solution and the design of specific customizations needed to satisfy business requirements identified during the Analysis phase. The customizations can range from simple user interface or report modifications to moderate-to-complex functionality additions or modifications. Customizations may also include the integrations and interfaces and data migration elements required to support the requirements.

• Development- The goal of the Development phase is to build and test the system components defined and approved in the design specifications, including developing the customizations, integrations and interfaces, and data migration processes. The major deliverables include the complete system configuration, completion and freezing of code for customizations, integrations and interfaces, and data migration. Other key deliverables include finalization of the design specifications and the completion of Solution Testing. For an Enterprise project, this may also include Data Acceptance, Process and Integration Testing.

• Deployment- the Deployment phase is where all the efforts of the project team come together for a successful transition to the new Microsoft Dynamics™ solution. Key activities in this phase include End User Training, User Acceptance Testing, and the actual cutover to the new or upgraded production environment. For Enterprise projects, Performance Testing is also completed.

• Operation- the Operation phase defines the activities required to close the project, provide post-production support, and transition the solution and knowledge to the customer. Key objectives of this phase include providing post–go-live support, transitioning the solution to support, performing a final quality audit, and project closure.

We've just reviewed a short brief about the potential of a well-organized and controlled IT project based on the Microsoft Dynamics™ Sure Step principles, a great useful tool that no doubt will improve your project management skills.

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