The Microsoft Dynamics AX Implementation Team: Understand the Roles that Determine Success

In my last article I looked at some of the essential planning that should go into a Microsoft Dynamics AX project.  The goals set out for the project can only be achieved with the right implementation team.

In this article I will focus on the execution team responsible for delivering a working Microsoft Dynamics AX solution. This execution team consists of SMEs and key users from customer side, as well as a consulting team's application and technical consultants.  Together, these groups represent one team working collectively throughout the project lifecycle.

The Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step's Project Charter Document identifies the implementation team in the Diagnostic phase, and it is a critical early milestone to starting the project execution. The implementation team is organized and managed through a mutual agreement between customer and consultation partner.  The customer names the project sponsor,  a "customer project manager", subject matter experts (SMEs), process owners, and key users. On the other hand the consultation partner names the project manager (this is the singular role for managing the project's daily progress, resources, methodology, and goals), the lead consultant, and the rest of the consulting team.

These two teams - the customer team and the consulting team - are engaged together throughout the implementation phases with a hierarchical relationship within and between them, handling different level of details of implementation tasks, and activities.  

SMEs are typically senior managers who can explain the company's business domain, address requirements, and frame the "to be" ...