Microsoft RapidStart

Team around desk in meeting

RapidStart is a version of Microsoft’s Sure Step Methodology designed specifically for projects with little or no customisation, where a quick deployment model is required.

RapidStart is a proven combination of time-saving tools and structured processes. Tools include templates for data migration, standard basic training materials and questionnaires to guide set up.

The process is all about Project Management, the effective management of change requests and issues, and ensuring the project maintains focus.

A RapidStart project works as follows:

Super User Navigation Training

Navigation training provides familiarisation of the system for your project team to enable them to critique through the workshops and manage testing.

Process Workshops

These provide a detailed walkthrough of the functionality within scope for your project. They aim to confirm that the solution suits your needs, and establishes how the system needs to be set up.

The output of these sessions are the Functional Scope document and Fit/Gap worksheet that identifies any areas unique to your business, as well as where additional work may be required.

System Build and Install

This involves advising on an appropriate test and production environment, installing software to your server and PC’s, and providing administration training to your IT resource.

Data Migration

Excel templates are supplied for the required data. Once data is in the correct format, this is uploaded for testing workshops. Usually, services allow for two data loads in each area, one into the test environment and one into the production environment ready for Go Live.

UAT and Parallel Run

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and Parallel Run assist user adoption of the system and ensure it’s been set up as expected.

Training

Typical elements addressed within training include:

  • Super User Training: this helps familiarise your project team with the software so they can make more meaningful input into the process workshops and to prepare them for testing.
  • Train the Trainer: assisting and training your project team members who will be delivering the end user training on the configured system.
  • Training Materials: assisting in the production of training materials for the end user training.

Go Live

When the system is ready to go, Go Live support covers the initial days of live operation and first key processes such as first payment run/first month end etc.

The key to RapidStart success is to assume that very little or no changes will be made to the standard system. Once your first phase has gone live, you may decide to add functionality at a later stage or find that as users become familiar with the new system, some processes may no longer be required.

The first step is to educate the team so they can critically assess the software to a greater degree than in the pre-sales demonstrations. Next we complete the process workshops where configuration requirements are determined. Then the configured system is delivered to site for testing and preparation for go-live.

To find out more about whether a RapidStart approach would suit your project, please contact TVision.