03 Solution Blueprint Review
03 Solution Blueprint Review
When?
• The Solution Blueprint review should be run at or near the project start or the
Initiate phase of the project, just before the primary implementation activities
start
How?
• At the minimum, the implementation team must be prepared to share the
information in the available Solution Blueprint template
• If the implementation team pushes back, remind them the Solution Blueprint
Review is the first step in process and provides context for all other guidance
and offer to discuss the high-risk gaps in the review
• Prepare and detail the Solution Blueprint in a common template that the
FastTrack team provides
• Present and discuss the details of the Solution Blueprint with FastTrack team
• Collaborate with the FastTrack team in identifying risks and potential issues
existing in the Solution
• Take on actionable insights back to the Solution, to reduce the risk and address
the issues
Solution Blueprint Review Process
Understand the steps from beginning to end
KNOW Make sure that you are familiar with the review topics, items and questions that
1
you will cover in the workshop.
Determine the required inputs, attendees, and execution mode… then get it
2 PLAN
scheduled.
3 EXECUTE Review the input materials and conduct the workshop to collect your findings.
Produce the findings from the review, classify them as issues risks and
4 PRODUCE
assertions and provide recommendations.
Work with the implementation team to ensure risks are mitigated and issues are
7 FOLLOW UP
resolved.
Breaking down barriers to participation
Solution Blueprint Review is the first step in process and provides context for all other guidance and offer to
discuss the high-risk gaps in the solution blueprint review
Most projects have a scope, budget and target go-live date defined as part of the
engagement agreement that the customer has with their implementation partner.
We’re not ready to The presence of these implies the existence of at least a conceptual solution and
implementation approach. This forms the basis of the blueprint.
review the blueprint
yet…. we just started the
project… • If we are missing scope, budget or target go-live date there we have inherent risk.
• If we have scope, budget or target go-live date with out a conceptual solution
design we have inherent risk
We expect big changes This is another way of saying that we have no confidence in the conceptual solution
following analysis and and by proxy the scope, budget and target go-live date.
solution modeling.
Let’s wait until we get • It is critical that all parties involved have the same understanding of the state of the
through those activities solution. Doing a blueprint review will help reinforce that understanding and
to review the blueprint… define non-negotiable constants that cannot change during analysis and solution
modeling
Planning for the Solution Blueprint Review
Solution Blueprint Review Preparation
Prepare for the workshop by gathering the details of the solution such as:
Data Strategy
Process Catalog Deployment Locations
(Entities / Migration Scope)
Integration Strategy
Process Block Diagram Project Charter
(Interface Register)
Other Factors
On FastTrack engagements for customers
How much is known up front? investing $100K - $300K, the Microsoft
How early in the project is the workshop? FastTrack architect does not attend this
How complex is the implementation? workshop. Microsoft FastTrack spends
approximately 45 minutes reviewing the
How standard is the approach? workshop outcomes.
Solution Blueprint Workshop Execution Modes
For $100K - $300K customer implementations, the partner organization should provide both the architect that is responsible for the implementation
as well as an architect that is responsible for conducting Success By Design for the implementation. These are not the same person.
Executing the Solution Blueprint Review
Solution Blueprint Review Execution Tips
• Its better to get through • If the team is not ready • The solution blueprint
each topic at a high level to discuss a topic at all establishes a baseline on
than 1 topic in detail the assumption should which you base the rest
• Once you identify the be that there is no plan of the program
risk or issue move on in that area. • It is risky to provide
• “Parking Lot” large areas • Lack of the ability to advice on any topic
of uncertainty for follow make an assertion without context
deep dives means there is
uncertainty.
Solution Blueprint Content
The following section provides examples of key points within each topic and some of the elements that a reviewer might be looking for. These are not an
exhaustive list of questions. The baseline questions are meant as a starting point to drive a conversation in which there will be opportunities to discover
potential issues and risks. This conversation will be slightly or significantly different depending on the individual implementation.
Program Strategy
What are we talking about? What are we looking for?