Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Talks

Initiate Phase of Success by Design (part 2) with the Microsoft Business Process Catalog in Mavim

How can you structure discovery workshops in the Initiate Phase of Success by Design to define scope, identify gaps, and prepare a solid Dynamics 365 implementation plan?
 
Key takeaways of this session:
  • ✔
    Apply storyboard techniques to visualize business processes using the BPC in Mavim.
  • ✔
    Run discovery workshops with scenario boards to identify fit-gap, define scope, and align stakeholders during the pre-sales phase.
  • ✔
    Use Power BI-style dashboards and heatmaps to assess gaps and support informed decisions before implementation.
duration 29 minutes
who is this webinar for Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Ecosystem (Microsoft, Partners & Customers)
Key roles: Enterprise/Solution Architects, IT Directors, PMs, Business Analysts & Transformation Leads
Summary
This session explores the Initiate Phase of the Success by Design methodology. It focuses on process visualization and governance using the Microsoft Business Process Catalog. You will learn to storyboard effectively, utilize discovery workshops, and leverage Power BI dashboards for successful Dynamics 365 implementations. 
Speakers
 
Rachel ProfittPrincipal Program Manager, Microsoft
 
Lennard van Leuven Value Engineer, Mavim
 
video Chapters
02:00
Why discovery workshops matter in the initiate phase
04:54
Using scenario boards to visualize business processes
07:02
Running a workshop in Mavim with templates and scenarios
13:45
Using dashboards and heatmaps to identify gaps
In partnership with Microsoft-Logo-PNG-e1487111483809

 

From Unstructured Discovery to Controlled Scoping Decisions

See how structured discovery workshops in the Initiate phase of Success by Design translate business requirements into scoped Dynamics 365 implementations, using scenario boards and the Microsoft Business Process Catalog in Mavim to visualize processes, align stakeholders, and establish process governance early in pre-sales.


solutions
Lack of Structure Blocks Early Alignment

Many organizations still rely on static documentation, fragmented workshops, and manual note-taking to define requirements. This results in unclear scope, missing requirements, and misaligned stakeholders. Without a structured approach, teams struggle to capture fit-gap insights early, leading to inefficient implementations and constant rework during later project phases.

problem-solving
Pre-Sales Decisions Define Implementation Success

Decisions made during the initiate phase directly impact project outcomes. Delaying structured discovery leads to incomplete statements of work and unclear expectations. As Dynamics 365 implementations grow in complexity, organizations must align stakeholders, define scope, and document requirements early to avoid costly adjustments during execution.


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Shift From Static Input to Visual Collaboration

Organizations move from siloed discussions and spreadsheets toward structured, visual discovery using scenario boards. This approach standardizes how requirements are captured, aligns stakeholders around process flows, and enables consistent fit-gap analysis. It supports data-driven decision-making and creates a direct link between business needs and implementation planning.

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Predefined Templates Accelerate Workshop Execution

The Microsoft Business Process Catalog combined with Mavim provides ready-to-use workshop templates, scenario boards, and structured questions. Instead of building discovery frameworks from scratch, teams start immediately with standardized processes, capture gaps directly, and visualize results in dashboards and heatmaps. This shortens preparation time and improves accuracy in defining scope and priorities.
 

“The discovery phase in your project is critical because it ensures that all of the right stakeholders are engaged.”

FAQ's

What is Microsoft Success by Design?

Microsoft Success by Design is a structured implementation framework for Dynamics 365, developed by the Microsoft FastTrack team. It defines five phases - Strategize, Initiate, Implement, Prepare, and Operate - to guide organizations through a controlled, phased delivery approach. The framework focuses on aligning business goals, reducing implementation risk, and supporting long-term adoption and continuous improvement.

What is the Microsoft Business Process Catalog

The Microsoft Business Process Catalog is a standardized library of business processes for Dynamics 365 implementations, published via Microsoft Learn and related guidance. It includes end-to-end processes, process areas, detailed process flows, scenarios, and configuration guidance. The catalog is continuously updated and expanded by Microsoft and its ecosystem, so structure and coverage evolve over time.

How does the Business Process Catalog improve Dynamics 365 implementations?

The catalog provides pre-defined, standardized processes and implementation guidance that reduce manual documentation and inconsistent process definitions. By using a fit-to-standard approach, organizations can align faster on scope, reduce rework, and improve delivery quality. According to the webinar, using these structured resources can lead to faster implementations and measurable cost savings compared to projects without standardized guidance.

How do Microsoft and Mavim work together on the Business Process Catalog?

Microsoft provides the Business Process Catalog content and the Success by Design framework, while Mavim provides the platform to operationalize and manage that content in a structured way. The combination allows organizations to move from static documentation toward active process management by visualizing processes, assigning ownership, and enabling stakeholder collaboration in a single environment. Through integrations such as Azure DevOps synchronization and deep linking into Dynamics 365, teams can directly connect process definitions to implementation and configuration. This joint approach helps organizations standardize processes faster, improve alignment between business and IT, and maintain governance across the full lifecycle, from strategize through operate, while supporting continuous improvement after go-live.

What is the role of the Initiate phase in Success by Design?

The Initiate phase focuses on defining the scope of the implementation by determining which business processes are included or excluded. It builds on the strategy phase by translating vision and goals into concrete process decisions. This phase ensures alignment across stakeholders, applies process governance, and creates a clear, shared baseline that guides the Dynamics 365 implementation.