Take steps to ensure your project succeeds with Sure Step
Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step Methodology
The Sure Step Methodology was developed by Microsoft to provide better support for ERP implementations as they strive to achieve their project goals (costs, dates, scope of functionality). It can be used for projects with large, medium-sized and small end-to-end commitments. These tools, templates and best practices provide the means to improve the consistency, time frame, quality, and success of the ERP system implementation. The Sure Step Methodology has six phases: Diagnosis, analysis, design, development, provision and operation. The diagnosis phase comes before the implementation, while all of the other phases from analysis to operation represent the five phases of an implementation project. The operational phase also encompasses those activities to be carried out after implementation, as they extend the project lifecycle beyond its implementation and into the support phase.
Sure Step by KCS.net
KCS.net has adapted the implementation method developed by Microsoft to better suit the conditions and requirements of its market environment. Our implementation method differentiates between Standard, Enterprise and Update projects.
The “Standard” project type can be used for the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX in companies with one or several locations, and where the business goals either consist of creating and implementing a single solution for the entire company or involve specific solutions for each location. It takes into account the business requirements of the customer by establishing a unified template, which begins with the analysis phase and then encompasses the design and development phases. The solution then goes through the release and operational phases so that it can be released to a single location or multiple locations. The Enterprise implementation method is generally used within international companies with multiple branches possibly spread throughout the world. These branches tend to have particular and specific business requirements which the method used in the development and implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX needs to accommodate.
The “Enterprise” project type therefore establishes a master template (the “main build”) for the business solution to take into consideration these business requirements. This master template is developed during the first stage and contains the fundamental business processes that are identical throughout the entire company. These business processes are the common denominator for the solution used in every country/branch. The definition of the master template begins in the analysis phase and then goes through the design and development phases. A site build is then developed on the basis of this master template that accommodates the specific requirements of a particular country/branch. During the process, it is ensured that each site build varies as little as possible and as much as necessary from the main build. The master template and each site build then form the basis of the site implementation and for the release to all the company’s various branches.
In addition to the six implementation phases, a successful ERP project also needs a cleanly structured project organisation system with clearly defined project roles and responsibilities. Project documents are created in each project phase, documenting the progress of the project and the design of the future ERP solution. Organising the project in this way allows us to form the basis that enables the defined project goals to be achieved and all work on the project to be completed efficiently and to a high standard. Both the allocation of clear-cut roles to the employees and the transparent allocation of responsibilities within the project increase the success of the implementation considerably.
The readiness of all of our employees to “go that extra mile” as they strive to achieve perfect results is also important for us. Our excellent apprenticeships and ongoing training, together with the wide-ranging industry experience of our employees, mean that we can place our absolute trust in the quality of KCS.net services – and so can you.
Documentation that records the scope of the future ERP solution is produced based on the KCS.net Sure Step structured implementation approach during each of the phases. This project documentation is provided with the aim of ensuring that the step-by-step development of the future ERP solution is transparent and documented, and to enable comparison of the future ERP solution with the defined requirements.
