Sure Step Design Phase –the final solution blueprint

Megha Kainth, 03 June 2011

The third step in Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step Methodology is the Design Phase. The purpose of the Design Phase is to formulate and design the solution based on the solution requirements as laid out in the Solution Requirements Document (SRD) that will fulfil the business requirements of the Client.

At Magnetism, in the Design Phase, our main focus is to document the design and present it to the Client in such a manner that the Client can understand what the developed system will be like and how it will operate.  At the same time we plan the development, dividing it into stages and scheduling developers.

The design is documented in a Solution Design Document (SDD).  The SDD includes screenshots that are frequently made in mSketch, our own design tool based on Microsoft expression Blend 4.  mSketch gives us the ability to show Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 customizations inside Microsoft Expression Blend 4 before actually touching Dynamics CRM itself.  The aim is to demonstrate to the Client what the screens will look like – so layouts etc. can be agreed before development time is used in developing them.  This can save a great deal of rework!

Frequently, when the Client sees the SDD, they understand more completely the solution envisaged by the designer.  Up to this stage, it was all about specifications and requirements – now they can see the “look and feel” of the system.  And frequently the Client will have further input and even new requirements that were not envisaged at the Analysis stage.  For this reason, the estimated price may change and a new Estimate issued.

In order to minimise development cost, it is very important that the Client agrees to the SDD and Magnetism will not commence development until the SDD is signed off by the Client.  This often means that the SDD goes through a number of revisions.  Although time-consuming, this is crucial because it gets the designer and the Client “onto the same page.”

Also, if the Estimate has changed due to changed requirements, the Client will also need to approve the new Estimate.