Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step is the prescribed methodology for deploying Microsoft Dynamics AX. The Sure Step application provides product-specific and general project-based templates, workflows, process maps and tools to assist the implementation partners. Sure Step is currently available as an online tool.
The Sure Step methodology is divided into the following phases:
Diagnostic | Evaluate a customer's business processes and infrastructure Assist the customer with their due diligence cycle, including ascertaining requirements and their fit with the solution, and assessing the resource needs for the solution delivery Prepare the project plan, proposal, and the Statement of Work
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Analysis | Analyze current business model and finalize the Functional Requirements document Finalize the fit-gap analysis Develop the Environment Specification documentation
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Design | Develop the Functional Design, Technical Design, and Solution Design documents Finalize the data migration design Establish test criteria
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Development | Finalize configurations and setup of the standard solution Develop and finalize the custom code that is required to support the solution Conduct functional and feature testing of the solution Create the user training documentation
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Deployment | Set up the production environment Migrate data to the production environment Conduct user acceptance test of the system Train users and finalize the user documentation Conduct go-live check and promote the system to production
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Operation | Resolve pending issues Finalize user documentation and knowledge transfer Conduct a post-mortem of the project Provide on-going support (activities that continue through any future involvement with the customer after the project is closed)
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The Sure Step methodology also provides guidance for the following areas:
Optimization | Leverage Review Offerings to determine proactively if the system is being designed and delivered optimally to meet the customer’s requirements Analyze the system to determine how it can be optimized for the best performance based on customer's needs
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Upgrade | Assess the customer's current business processes and solution Document the requirements for new functionality Upgrade the system to new release—including the addition of new functionality, promotion of existing customizations that are required, and elimination of custom code no longer required
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