Discover
Process workshops, data audit, and a fit-gap against the standard product.
Phase 1 · Awareness
Implementation governance and risk
Microsoft Success by Design in action: governance that protects go-live
How a delivery team applies the Microsoft FastTrack Success by Design framework as a set of reviews and gates that protect the go-live date.
The short answer
Success by Design is a rhythm of reviews. Each phase has an entry gate, evidence and a decision, so a risk becomes visible when it is cheap to fix.
Stages
Phase gates from kickoff to live
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1
Initiate Scope, success measures, governance and the delivery team are agreed and written down.
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2
Implement Solution design is reviewed against Microsoft guidance before build starts.
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3
Prepare Testing, data migration and cutover are rehearsed and reviewed.
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4
Operate Go-live readiness is checked and the support model is in place.
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5
Optimise Release waves and improvements are planned after go-live.
Decision points
Three questions that change the answer
Is the solution design reviewed and signed off?
YesProceed to build.
NoHold the build until the design is reviewed.
Have two rehearsals met the exit criteria?
YesTake the go-live decision.
NoSchedule another rehearsal.
Is the support model staffed and tested?
YesGo live.
NoDelay until it is.
Milestones
What done looks like, and when
- Kickoff Governance, scope and success measures signed.
- Design gate Design reviewed with evidence.
- Readiness gate Rehearsals complete, support ready.
- Go-live and 90 days Hypercare ends with an agreed handover.
Principles we hold to
- A gate needs evidence, not confidence.
- A risk found in design costs a fraction of a risk found in testing.
- The steering committee sees the same risk list as the team.
- Go-live is a decision with a checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is Success by Design?
Microsoft's implementation framework for Dynamics 365 projects: a set of phases and reviews that help teams find and fix risks early.
Does Success by Design guarantee success?
No framework can guarantee it. It makes risk visible earlier and gives the steering committee evidence to decide on.
Take this to your own programme.
Tell us where you are. We will tell you plainly what this means for your estate and what we would do first.
Book a consultation
Next: ERP cutover and data migration: a 90-day executive governance framework →
How an engagement runs
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It starts with a 45-minute consultation, then a discovery and fit-gap workshop on your own processes. You receive a written fit-gap and a phased plan before a programme is agreed. Four phases follow, each with something you can use and review.
Design
Solution blueprint, integration map, and the extensions we will actually need.
Deploy
Configuration, migration rehearsal, role-based training, UAT and phased cutover.
Support
Hypercare, managed services, client portal, scheduled optimisation reviews.
What drives the cost: users, legal entities and currencies, integrations, data migration and the gaps found against standard. See how pricing works, run the three-minute readiness score, or book a consultation.