Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementations

Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementations

by Eric Newell
Released June 2021
Publisher(s): Sybex
ISBN: 9781119789321

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Book description

Confidently shepherd your organization’s implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 to a successful conclusion 

In Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementations, accomplished executive, project manager, and author Eric Newell delivers a holistic, step-by-step reference to implementing Microsoft’s cloud-based ERP and CRM business applications. You’ll find the detailed and concrete instructions you need to take your implementation project all the way to the finish line, on-time, and on-budget. 

You’ll learn: 

  • The precise steps to take, in the correct order, to bring your Dynamics 365 implementation to life 
  • What to do before you begin the project, including identifying stakeholders and building your business case 
  • How to deal with a change management throughout the lifecycle of your project 
  • How to manage conference room pilots (CRPs) and what to expect during the sessions 

Perfect for CIOs, technology VPs, CFOs, Operations leaders, application directors, business analysts, ERP/CRM specialists, and project managers, Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementations is an indispensable and practical reference for guiding your real-world Dynamics 365 implementation from planning to completion. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. About the Author
  7. About the Technical Editor
  8. Introduction
  9. Chapter 1: Stages of an Implementation Overview
    1. What Is Microsoft Dynamics?
    2. The Client Journey
    3. Implementation Methodologies
    4. Triple Constraints
    5. The Bottom Line
  10. Chapter 2: What to Do Before You Begin a Project
    1. Identify Your Project Team and Stakeholders
    2. Identify Your Processes in Scope
    3. Clean Up Your Data
    4. Define Your Success Metrics
    5. Possible Benefits
    6. Building Your Business Case and Securing Funding
    7. The Bottom Line
  11. Chapter 3: Four Keys to Consider When Buying an ERP or CRM Solution
    1. Selection Process
    2. The Four Keys
    3. Building Your Scorecard
    4. The Bottom Line
  12. Chapter 4: How to Evaluate and Buy Business Application Software
    1. Buying Process Steps
    2. The Bottom Line
  13. Chapter 5: Organizing Your Team for Success and Project Governance
    1. RACI
    2. Your Partner's Implementation Team
    3. Project Governance
    4. The Bottom Line
  14. Chapter 6: Sprints and Tools Needed to Run Your Project
    1. Definition of a Sprint
    2. Backlog
    3. Sprint Meetings
    4. Work Definitions
    5. Azure DevOps
    6. The Bottom Line
  15. Chapter 7: Change Management Throughout Your Project
    1. Success Criteria
    2. Use of Satisfaction Surveys
    3. Nine Steps to Change Management
    4. The Bottom Line
  16. Chapter 8: Organizing Your Business by Processes
    1. Common Language Businesses Speak
    2. Process Hierarchy
    3. Discovering Your Processes
    4. The Bottom Line
  17. Chapter 9: Independent Software Vendors—Filling Gaps and Managing Partnerships
    1. The Purpose of ISVs
    2. Hosting Providers
    3. Working with ISVs
    4. Microsoft's AppSource Marketplace
    5. The Bottom Line
  18. Chapter 10: Factors for a Successful Project Kickoff
    1. Pre-Kickoff Meeting Activities
    2. Kickoff Meeting Content
    3. Executive Message
    4. Expectations for the Project Team
    5. The Bottom Line
  19. Chapter 11: Designing the Software Collaboratively
    1. Joint Application Design Concept
    2. Joint Process Design and Other Design-Related Definitions
    3. Joint Process Design Iterations
    4. SIPOC
    5. The Bottom Line
  20. Chapter 12: Requirements Gathering and Staying “In the Box”
    1. Staying in the Box
    2. Requirements
    3. Writing Good Requirements
    4. Fit/Gap Analysis
    5. The Cost of Customizations
    6. The Bottom Line
  21. Chapter 13: Conference Room Pilots
    1. The Purpose of a Conference Room Pilot
    2. CRP Roles and Responsibilities
    3. CRP Place in the Overall Schedule
    4. CRP vs. UAT
    5. What to Do Between CRP and the End of the Create Stage
    6. CRP Goals
    7. The Bottom Line
  22. Chapter 14: Dealing with Challenges Mid-Project
    1. Managing the Project Status
    2. Risks and Issues
    3. Common Project Challenges
    4. The Bottom Line
  23. Chapter 15: Customizations vs. Configurations and How You Manage Them
    1. Customizations vs. Configurations
    2. Tracking Configurations
    3. Functional Design Documents
    4. The Development Process
    5. After Code Complete
    6. The Lifecycle of a Customization
    7. The Bottom Line
  24. Chapter 16: Data Migration—Early and Often
    1. Data Migration Plan
    2. Extract
    3. Transform
    4. Load
    5. Validating the Data
    6. Technical Validation
    7. Go-Live Iteration
    8. The Bottom Line
  25. Chapter 17: Environment Management and Deployments
    1. Types of Environments
    2. Environment Plan
    3. Deploying Code
    4. Security
    5. The Bottom Line
  26. Chapter 18: Testing
    1. Definitions
    2. Pre-Deploy Stage Activities
    3. UAT Sessions
    4. Post UAT Testing
    5. The Bottom Line
  27. Chapter 19: Training for All
    1. Learning During Interactive Sessions
    2. Learning Modalities
    3. How to Manage and Distribute Your Content
    4. Building Your End User Training Schedule
    5. The Bottom Line
  28. Chapter 20: Going Live
    1. Go-Live Criteria
    2. Mock Cutover and Final Week Activities
    3. Go/No-Go Meetings
    4. Live Cutover
    5. The Bottom Line
  29. Chapter 21: Hypercare
    1. Go-Live Support
    2. Role of HelpDesk
    3. Post Go-Live Releases
    4. Project Team Transition
    5. The Bottom Line
  30. Chapter 22: Support and Enhance Your Project
    1. Support After Hypercare
    2. After Action Review
    3. Ongoing Releases
    4. Future Enhancements
    5. Calculating Return on Investment
    6. The Bottom Line
  31. Chapter 23: Bringing It All Together
    1. Align Stage
    2. Define Stage
    3. Create Stage
    4. Deploy Stage
    5. Empower Stage
    6. Additional Resources
    7. The Bottom Line
  32. Appendix: The Bottom Line
    1. Chapter 1: Stages of an Implementation Overview
    2. Chapter 2: What to Do Before You Begin a Project
    3. Chapter 3: Four Keys to Consider When Buying an ERP or CRM Solution
    4. Chapter 4: How to Evaluate and Buy Business Application Software
    5. Chapter 5: Organizing Your Team for Success and Project Governance
    6. Chapter 6: Sprints and Tools Needed to Run Your Project
    7. Chapter 7: Change Management Throughout Your Project
    8. Chapter 8: Organizing Your Business by Processes
    9. Chapter 9: Independent Software Vendors—Filling Gaps and Managing Partnerships
    10. Chapter 10: Factors for a Successful Project Kickoff
    11. Chapter 11: Designing the Software Collaboratively
    12. Chapter 12: Requirements Gathering and Staying “In the Box”
    13. Chapter 13: Conference Room Pilots
    14. Chapter 14: Dealing with Challenges Mid-Project
    15. Chapter 15: Customizations vs. Configurations and How You Manage Them
    16. Chapter 16: Data Migration—Early and Often
    17. Chapter 17: Environment Management and Deployments
    18. Chapter 18: Testing
    19. Chapter 19: Training for All
    20. Chapter 20: Going Live
    21. Chapter 21: Hypercare
    22. Chapter 22: Support and Enhance Your Project
    23. Chapter 23: Bringing It All Together
  33. Glossary
  34. Index
  35. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Mastering Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementations
  • Author(s): Eric Newell
  • Release date: June 2021
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781119789321