Implementing Dynamics GP with Sure Step 2010: Unifications, Project Management Guidelines

Implementing Dynamics GP with Sure Step 2010: Unifications

, Project Management Guidelines

If each project manager understands the work done by the previous PM - isn't it a value for the customer, where Microsoft Dynamics projects is to be implemented? We think that the value is great and we would like to make some comments on Dynamics GP Sure Step 2010

This tool is very desirable as guidelines, applicable to all Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM products. If this tool becomes popular, and it is very likely to happen, due to required Sure Step 2010 certification ERP and CRM customers in the near future might expect certain level of implementation quality. Let's come through brief review and some recommendations:

1. Project Phases: Diagnosis (it might be associated with sales cycle, where some of the activities could be billable, such as in Decision Accelerator Offered section: Requirements and Process Review, Fit Gap and Solution Blueprint, Proof of Concept, Architecture Assessment, Scoping Assessment, Business Case and Upgrade Assessment), Analysis (Finalizing and approving for the project charter, project plan, organizing Kickoff meeting, functional requirements delivery and approving, Fit Gap Analysis (usually as correcting version of the document, created in Diagnosis phase)), Design, Development, Deployment and Operation (where you sign off on the work performed and disengage your project team)

2. Project Types. These are Standard (where you expect moderate level of customizations, less than 150 hours, up to three locations with unique implementation project at each one, up to three ISV add-ons, from 25 to 250 users to be some of the criteria), Rapid (no customization, up to 25 users, one location or if all the locations have the same implementation pattern, no ISV products), Enterprise (where you may expect more than 250 users, four or more locations, Dynamics AX and CRM are recommended for these projects), Agile (these are typically associated with complex customizations, over 150 hours of programming, plus where you cannot spec out all the project with reasonable accuracy all the way through in the Analysis gathering they are rather require several iterations as the project progresses)

3. Cross Phase Processes. Sure Step identifies nine processes, crossing phase timeline borders. They are categorized as Organization (Program Management, Training, Business Process Analysis), Solution (Requirements and Configuration, Custom Coding, Quality and Testing) and Technology (Infrastructure, Integration and Interfacing, Data Conversion and Migration)

4. Optimization Offering and Project Management Library. While optimization offering are related to the phases (or combination of phases, such as upgrade review), PM library is rather the reference to classical project management theory and its classifications: Risk, Scope, Issue, Time & Cost, Resource, Communication, Quality, Procurement, and Sales Management topics

5. Consulting organization and Customer roles. There are descriptions of the people, who are the members of project management team, such as Project Manager, Solution Architect, Application Consultant, Business Decision Maker, End User and more

6. Project Templates by Dynamics ERP specific product, in our case GP, but templates are available for generic Corporate ERP, AX, SL, NAV and CRM. If you create the project, classify it as Standard (for example), upload your company logo you should be able to get advantage from the predefined templates: Fit Gap Analysis Template in Excel, Microsoft Dynamics GP Architecture Review, Project Charter, Upgrade Assessment Questionnaire, etc.

7. Collaboration. SS data could be enabled on the SharePoint server, where you may make it accessible companywide (assuming that you are consulting firm)

8. Templates database growth. This is what Microsoft plans to do as time goes

9. International Versions. Especially with the expansion of Microsoft CRM and AX, there are templates available in Russian, German and other languages

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