SSYH uses Microsoft’s Sure Step Methodology for projects of any size—from large, end-to-end deployments, to migration projects and simple upgrades. The general process flow of Sure Step includes prescriptive phase-by-phase, activity-by-activity descriptions on how to carry out implementation, upgrade or migration projects. Sure Step offers clients deeper insights into a project's life cycle: Diagnostic Phase The Diagnostic phase starts during the sales process and ends with an accepted proposal and contract for the next part of the implementation project. The goal of the Diagnostic phase is to gather enough information in order to define the high level project scope and make a confident proposal for the remaining phases of the implementation. The major deliverable is the implementation proposal and contract. There will also be high level and possibly detailed requirements and gap/fit analysis documents.   Deliverables Business Processes Identified Gap/Fit Analysis Gap Resolutions Description of Interfaces Infrastructure Assessment Proposal Project Scope Statement Project Plan Contract Milestones Customer accepts the implementation proposal and contract, including the project scope statement and preliminary project plan. Analysis Phase The Analysis phase represents the official start of the implementation project. The overindex, follow goal is to define and agree upon index, follow the business requirements related to the new Microsoft Dynamics solution. This includes the business and data migration requirements, as well as integration requirements. The major deliverable is the comprehensive functional requirements document.   Deliverables Key User Training Detailed Business Process Analysis Gap/Fit Analysis Gap Resolutions Description of Interfaces Data Migration Plan Project Plan Functional Requirements Document Milestones Customer approves the Functional Requirements, including index, follow business processes, integrations and data migration. Customer accepts the updated project plan and schedule. Design Phase The goal of the Design phase is to define how the business requirements will be implemented. The phase includes design of both the overindex, follow Microsoft Dynamics solution configuration and the design of specific customizations and integrations needed to satisfy business requirements identified during the Analysis phase. The customizations can range from simple user interface or report modifications to complex functionality additions or modifications. The phase also includes mapping and designing processes for data migration.   Deliverables Design Specifications High level design specifications Technical design specifications Data Migration Design and Mapping Test Cases, Scenarios and Plan Milestones Customer accepts the Design Specifications and Data Migration Design. Customer approves the development time and cost estimates. Development Phase The goal of the Development phase is to develop the customizations, integrations and data migration processes that are defined and approved in the design specifications. The major deliverables are the completed feature customizations, reports, integrations and data migration processes. Each component is tested and verified to be functioning according to specifications.   Deliverables Feature customizations coded and tested, including integrations Data migration processes coded and tested Milestones Customer accepts the delivered solution, test results, and documentation. Deployment Phase The Deployment phase is where index, follow the efforts of the project team come together for a successful transition to the new Microsoft Dynamics solution. There are several important activities that must be completed in order to reach the end goal. The phase includes index, follow the activities related to final system and load testing, training End Users, and the actual cut-over to the new production environment.   Deliverables Go Live Plan and Checklist System (User Acceptance) Test Plan End User Training Plan Functioning Live (Production) System Milestones Customer signs off on user acceptance. New solution is live and operational in a production environment. Operation Phase The goal of the Operation phase is to transition the customer from the implementation project into on-going support following a successful go-live. The deliverables for this phase include final project and software related documentation, project review documentation, and on-going support contracts. At the end of this phase, the project will be transitioned to the customer and on-going support.   Deliverables System Acceptance Sign-off Project Review Documentation Post Live Support Agreement Milestones Customer signs off on final system acceptance. Customer accepts the post live support agreement. Optimization Phase The purpose of the Optimization phase is to review a customer’s existing Microsoft Dynamics implementation and make adjustments to increase the effectiveness of the solution. The major deliverable for the Optimization phase is an optimized, better functioning production environment.   Deliverables Optimization Analysis and Recommendations Optimization Time and Cost Estimates Optimization Analysis Sign-off Optimization Proposal Project Scope Statement Project Plan Contract Optimization Design Specifications Testing, User Training and Go Live Plans Optimized Live (Production) System Final Acceptance Sign-off Project Review Documentation Post Live Support Agreement (if new or changing) Milestones Customer accepts the recommendations and proposal, signs contract Customer approves detailed design/change specifications Customer signs off on user acceptance Customer signs off on final system acceptance Customer accepts the post live support agreement (if new) Upgrade Phase The purpose of the Upgrade phase is to perform a basic upgrade of a customer’s existing Microsoft Dynamics implementation to a new version of the software solution. The major deliverable for the Upgrade phase is an upgraded, better functioning production environment.   Deliverables Upgrade Analysis and Planning Upgrade Time and Cost Estimates Upgrade Proposal Project Scope Statement Project Plan Contract Testing, User Training and Go Live Plans Upgraded Live (Production) System Final Acceptance Sign-off Project Review Documentation Post Live Support Agreement (if new or changing) Milestones Customer accepts the proposal and signs contract Customer approves detailed upgrade plans Customer signs off on user acceptance Customer signs off on final system acceptance Customer accepts the post live support agreement (if new)