Envisioning To Delivery – POC, Prototypes, Pilots and MVP
Jan18

Envisioning To Delivery – POC, Prototypes, Pilots and MVP

I took a deep breath before clicking on the “Join now” button of the MS Teams call. We were ready to present our proposal for a discovery project to a potential client. Before today’s presentation, we had several calls with the client to agree on the deliverables, scope, and timelines of this engagement. The Product Owner had requested that we include a prototype as part of… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Power Apps Portals – Concepts and Cheatsheet
Dec13

Power Apps Portals – Concepts and Cheatsheet

Power Apps Portals offers you the ability to surface data stored in Dataverse or Dynamics 365 and deliver rich, web-based experiences to users, unlocking business scenarios for employees, business to business (B2B) partners and end customers. The following diagram represents my interpretation of the concepts delivered by Power Apps Portals. It also includes a cheatsheet on how to… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Power Apps Portals – Concepts and Features
Dec13

Power Apps Portals – Concepts and Features

Power Apps Portals offers you the ability to surface data stored in Dataverse or Dynamics 365 and deliver rich, web-based experiences to users, unlocking business scenarios for employees, business to business (B2B) partners and end customers. The following diagram represents my interpretation of the concepts and features delivered by Power Apps Portals.  The following diagram helps… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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My Go To Diagrams
Nov17

My Go To Diagrams

Written documentation is the least effective form of communication to create a shared understanding. Often stakeholders see things differently than developers do. Stakeholders sometimes see challenges and requirements differently between one another. Using diagrams when implementing Dynamics 365 or the Power Platform helps create a shared understanding of requirements and vision… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Dynamics 365 2MT Episode 146: DISPLAY SHAREPOINT DOCUMENTS INSIDE ANY GRID!
Oct27

Dynamics 365 2MT Episode 146: DISPLAY SHAREPOINT DOCUMENTS INSIDE ANY GRID!

  Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani Kahil)’s Article on their blog Dynamics 365 2MT Episode 146: DISPLAY SHAREPOINT DOCUMENTS INSIDE ANY GRID! If you enjoyed my article about “Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram”, here is an example that you can copy and adapt to your own Dynamics 365 Implementation. Use this diagram to get a shared understanding of the high-level features required...

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The Perfect Requirements
Oct19

The Perfect Requirements

Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani Kahil)’s Article on their blog The Perfect Requirements If you enjoyed my article about “Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram”, here is an example that you can copy and adapt to your own Dynamics 365 Implementation. Use this diagram to get a shared understanding of the high-level features required by your system to meet your client requirements. Blog...

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DynamicsCon Recording – Dani Kahil on Envisioning Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Solutions Using Design Thinking
Sep24

DynamicsCon Recording – Dani Kahil on Envisioning Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Solutions Using Design Thinking

Have you ever wanted to know how Design Thinking can help during your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform projects? Here is the recording of my presentation at DynamicsCon. “Envisioning Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Solutions Using Design Thinking” Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani Kahil)’s Article on their blog DynamicsCon Recording – Dani Kahil on Envisioning Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Solutions...

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Common Data Service (Current Environment) Cheat Sheet
Sep16

Common Data Service (Current Environment) Cheat Sheet

 To help you envision even more amazing Apps using Power Automate and the Power Platform ? Trigers Trigger Condition: <Select the operation> Entity: <Select the Entity> Scope: <Select the scope> (More info about SCOPE) … Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani Kahil)’s Article on their blog Common Data Service (Current Environment) Cheat Sheet Common Data Service (Current Environment) Cheat Sheet...

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Dynamics 365 Marketing – Conceptual Diagram
Aug24

Dynamics 365 Marketing – Conceptual Diagram

This is my first draft of the Dynamics 365 Marketing – Conceptual Diagram. Use this diagram to get a shared understanding of the high-level features required by your system to meet your client requirements. Including details Without details Check out my article about the “Conceptual Diagram” which is a key document I use to foster a shared understanding of the requirement and the… Continue Reading...

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Envisioning solutions using the Education Accelerator – A customer service scenario
Aug03

Envisioning solutions using the Education Accelerator – A customer service scenario

In June 2020, Microsoft released an updated version of their Power Platform & Dynamics 365 Education Accelerator with the K-12 extension. K–12, from kindergarten to 12th grade, is an American expression that indicates the range of years of supported primary and secondary education. The Industry Accelerators are solutions that you install on your Power Platform environment. They… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Envisioning using Design Thinking
Jul22

Envisioning using Design Thinking

A few months ago, I a wrote an article about “Design Thinking and the Power Platform – start of the journey”. Since then, I have learned and experimented with specific “Design Thinking” concepts. This article is about sharing my experience on the techniques I find most suited for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform projects.  However, before doing so, let me share with you a… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Getting Buy In of your Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas – Reiterate the problem
Jul06

Getting Buy In of your Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas – Reiterate the problem

In my previous video about Buy In I shared with you an experience I had, where I was trying to get Buy In from my stakeholders, but I was getting nowhere.  People couldn’t connect to the solution I was presenting to them. Then I used 4 specific techniques to bring back my audience and effectively get Buy In of my solution idea. In this video, we will cover more in details … Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Envisioning Solution using the K-12 Accelerator – Part 1 – What is it and Conceptual Diagram
Jun22

Envisioning Solution using the K-12 Accelerator – Part 1 – What is it and Conceptual Diagram

Microsoft released the Power Platform & Dynamics 365 K-12 Industry Accelerator in June 2020.  K–12, from kindergarten to 12th grade, is an American expression that indicates the range of years of supported primary and secondary education. The Industry Accelerators are solutions that you install on your Power Platform environment. They extend the Common Data Model with specific … Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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Getting Buy In of your Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas – Using Stories
Jun14

Getting Buy In of your Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas – Using Stories

In my previous video about Buy In I shared with you an experience I had, where I was trying to get Buy In from my stakeholders, but I was getting nowhere.  People couldn’t connect to the solution I was presenting to them. Then I used 4 specific techniques to bring back my audience and effectively get Buy In of my solution idea. In this video, we will cover more in details … Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Getting Buy In of your  Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas
Jun04

Getting Buy In of your Dynamics 365 & Power Platform Solution Ideas

You can present fantastic solutions to meet your client’s requirements. Solutions that could even solve many additional problems for them. But if you don’t get buy in for those solutions, they actually don’t matter.   “When you explain your idea and hit them with data, you can move their heads, but are you moving their hearts? We need to get people to care about what… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Dynamics 365 Customer Service Insights – Conceptual Diagram
May01

Dynamics 365 Customer Service Insights – Conceptual Diagram

Link to the interactive and editable Diagram:https://bit.ly/D365CSInsigtsConceptual Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani Kahil)’s Article on their blog Dynamics 365 Customer Service Insights – Conceptual Diagram Enhanced your Dynamics 365 Conceptual Diagram with Entity Forms and Business Process Flow details. In this example, we show the Case Form and Business Process Flow (BPF) details. Blog Syndicated with...

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Empower Your Career conference – Envisioning Beautiful Solutions on The Power Platform and Dynamics 365
Apr20

Empower Your Career conference – Envisioning Beautiful Solutions on The Power Platform and Dynamics 365

If you are looking for a career change, are starting with the Power Platform, or simply want to learn more on how to Envision solutions using The Power Platform and Dynamics 365, come and join me for this session.In the following recording, I am presenting my view on how best to envision solutions as a Team and the important steps to consider when starting a new Power Platform or Dynamics 365… Continue Reading...

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The Power of Prototyping during your Dynamics 365 Implementation
Mar30

The Power of Prototyping during your Dynamics 365 Implementation

We are in the middle of a Dynamics 365 project implementation. I am struggling to get a shared understanding of requirements for a Time Entry functionality that my client has asked us to build. What was supposed to be a simple Time Entry entity with description, date and owner is now evolving to be way more complex with many other rules. Ex: Time Entry categories need to drive if fields are… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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Envisioning solutions using Universal Resource Scheduling in Dynamics 365
Mar12

Envisioning solutions using Universal Resource Scheduling in Dynamics 365

The “Universal Resource Scheduling” (URS) has been around for a while and is a key element when planning resource in Dynamics 365 Field Service. The new service scheduling functionality in Dynamics 365 Customer Service now uses URS to help you plan resources to deliver your services.This article aims to cover key concepts to help you envision great solutions using the URS. To make it… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Video presentation – Extend the Power Platform with Industry Accelerators and deep dive into the Higher Ed. Accelerator.
Feb27

Video presentation – Extend the Power Platform with Industry Accelerators and deep dive into the Higher Ed. Accelerator.

I had the preasure to present at the “Power Platform 24 Conference 2020” on the 26th of February 2020.In this presentation I covered the Components and Concepts of the Higher Education Accelerator, including my interpretation of how the Accelerator concepts fit within the Power Platform / Dynamics 365 ecosystem alongside other Apps.Link to the video presentation:And below are some materials I… Continue Reading...

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My view on Requirement Validation workshops for the Power Platform or Dynamics 365
Feb24

My view on Requirement Validation workshops for the Power Platform or Dynamics 365

I just walked into the board roam to facilitate a requirement validation workshop for a new client. The room is big and light, with spectacular views on the Sydney harbour. I am the first one in the room, so I take a minute to look at the flow of activities happening at “Circular Key”. Circular Quay is Sydney’s harbour, international passenger shipping port, tourism precinct, heritage… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Release Wave 1 2020 – Conceptual Diagram
Feb05

Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Release Wave 1 2020 – Conceptual Diagram

This is the Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram including improvements coming with wave 1 releasing from April 2020 through September 2020.Use this diagram to get a shared understanding of the high-level features required by your system to meet your client requirements.In this example, functionalities are linked to more information on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Documentation…. Continue Reading...

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Design Thinking and the Power Platform – start of the journey
Jan29

Design Thinking and the Power Platform – start of the journey

It’s one of those fresh spring mornings in Brisbane. Clear blue sky, bright sun and a little breeze to keep you cool. I am having a great conversation with a colleague in the coffee place in front of the office. One of those conversations where we are reshaping the world with lots of ideas. I tell my colleague about my deep interest in techniques to drive shared understanding of… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator – Part 2: Conceptual Diagram
Jan13

Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator – Part 2: Conceptual Diagram

< div dir=”ltr” style=”text-align: left”> Late 2019 Microsoft released V2 of the Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator.The Industry Accelerators are solutions that you install on your Power Platform environment. They extend the Common Data Model with specific entities, processes, apps, etc. This provides a great head start for companies and partners implementing Dynamics 365 in those...

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Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator: Part 1 – Solution Components
Jan10

Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator: Part 1 – Solution Components

< div dir=”ltr” style=”text-align: left”> In late 2019 Microsoft released V2 of the Power Platform / Dynamics 365 Higher Education Accelerator. “The version v2.0.3.0 release includes new data attributes in the Common Data Model for Higher Education Accelerator, enhancements to the sample application, updated persona-based scenarios, and documentation”Reference:...

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Add Forms and Business Process Flow details to your Dynamics 365 Conceptual Diagram
Jan04

Add Forms and Business Process Flow details to your Dynamics 365 Conceptual Diagram

Enhanced your Dynamics 365 Conceptual Diagram with Entity Forms and Business Process Flow details.In this example, we show the Case Form and Business Process Flow (BPF) details.Link to the editable diagram so that you customize your own Forms and BPF: Dynamics 365 CS – Conceptual Diagram – Forms and BPF DetailsWhy and When to use itThe main driver for using the conceptual diagram is to help… Continue Reading...

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Key questions to master Dynamics 365 requirements
Dec02

Key questions to master Dynamics 365 requirements

Introduction In this article, I will describe what I consider key questions to cover from the point of view of an external consultant/partner starting an engagement at your client.Writing this article made me realize that I was not consistently asking key questions on all my previous engagements. When you are pulled into the middle of a challenging project with tight deadlines, it’s… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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Dynamics 365 – Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram
Nov17

Dynamics 365 – Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram

If you enjoyed my article about “Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Conceptual Diagram”, here is an example that you can copy and adapt to your own Dynamics 365 Implementation.Use this diagram to get a shared understanding of the high-level features required by your system to meet your client requirements.In this example, functionalities are linked to more information on the Microsoft Dynamics… Continue Reading...

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Elicit Dynamics 365 Requirements using Observation (Job Shadowing)
Nov17

Elicit Dynamics 365 Requirements using Observation (Job Shadowing)

IntroductionThe Observation technique is one of the many techniques to elicit requirements.Also called “Shadowing User” it’s an interesting technique that will let you feel and experience how users work and interact with the various applications they use to perform their tasks.Below a snapshot of the key aspects covered in this articleWhat is itAccording to BABOK (Business Analysis Body Of… Continue Reading...

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Model your Dynamics 365 Solution – Use Case Diagram (Part 2)
Nov17

Model your Dynamics 365 Solution – Use Case Diagram (Part 2)

IntroductionUsing visual models when implementing Dynamics 365 helps to create a shared understanding of what are the key features of your solution. They can help you map out the requirements and how they relate to one another. In this article, I will focus on the Use Case Diagram, which is one of the diagrams I use on my Dynamics 365 implementation. Check out my previous article on an… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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Dealing with ambiguous requirements
Nov17

Dealing with ambiguous requirements

Introduction One of the main challenges we encounter during Dynamics 365 implementations is ambiguous requirements. Often these come down to a communication issue.Ambiguity in requirements is common because people use words (and diagrams at best) to describe intangible wishes and desires. Those people have a specific context in their mind, which is driven by past experiences, current work… Continue Reading...

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Model your Dynamics 365 Solution (Part 3) – Conceptual Diagram
Nov17

Model your Dynamics 365 Solution (Part 3) – Conceptual Diagram

IntroductionOne of the diagrams that I use the most is the “Conceptual Diagram”. Which is a graphical representation of the building blocks or features that we are implementing using Dynamics 365.As consultants, one of the challenges we face is trying to understand the client requirements as quickly as possible. Reading requirement specification documents or discussions will only get you… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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Model your Dynamics 365 Solution – Overview (Part 1)
Sep10

Model your Dynamics 365 Solution – Overview (Part 1)

IntroductionBuilding a dolls house can be done by one person. It involves a simple process, performed with basic tools such as nails, hammer, tape and can be done in a few hours without any external help. Your little daughter might want to give you a hand, but you see my point.If you want to build a real family house, you might have to consider a different approach. It requires planning,… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com...

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Find an AMAZING name for your system
Aug23

Find an AMAZING name for your system

A powerful technique to start engaging your users and SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) in the build of your solution is by letting them find and choose a name for your Dynamics 365 system.If you don’t decide on a name early on, end users will often start using different names for the system, which can cause confusion. Alternatively, companies usyally find acronyms for what the system is… Continue Reading noreply@blogger.com (Dani...

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