Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
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 or for download from PartnerSource.
The Sure Step methodology is divided into the following phases:
Phase
Tasks during phase
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
Analysis
Analyze current business model and finalize the Functional Requirements document
Finalize the fit-gap analysis
Develop the Environment Specification documentation
Design
Develop the Functional Design, Technical Design, and Solution Design documents
Finalize the data migration design
Establish test criteria
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
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
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)
The Sure Step methodology also provides guidance for the following areas:
Activity area
Actions performed
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
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