Microsoft dynamics Sure step Methodology

Sure Step defines 6 Main Phases and 2 additional phases for optimization and upgrade. It covers the complete lifecycle from project initiation, development, deployment, optimization and upgrade to the next version. A phase ends with a milestone. A milestone is a sum of artefacts created or refined in the phase. If the milestone is accomplished you may start the next phase. At the first look the phases look like a waterfall model, but of course Sure Step isn't waterfall. Cause waterfall don't works in reallity.
Sure Step Phases:

• Diagnostic: The diagnostic phase contains analysis of the customer process at a very hi level. Focus of the diagnostic phase is the project initialization; To setup a project plan, agree on an approach and scope definition.
• Analysis: In the analysis phase most of the business processes are identified and documented at a high level. If necessary an external specialist helps you to do so. Goal of the analysis phase is to understand the customers business and processes performed. Modeling and documenting the customers business is important. Microsoft Provides a new tool for the modeling: Microsoft Sure Step Business Modeler
• Design: Main purpose of the design phase is to find a way how the customers processes and needs can be implemented with Dynamics. At this point there may be more than one solution for a topic. You need to identify the best strategy for the implementation phase. Although prototyping is not covered in sure step, this is the point where to build prototypes and do load testing on the prototype implementation.
• Development: Most of the programming work is done in the development. Development covers the creation of new features and adaption of existing features as well as the data migration. All features and the data migration has to be tested. Beside feature and data migration testing it is necessary to do security testing. The phase ends when most of the specified features are developed and tested and the data migration is done.
• Deployment: Goal of the deployment phase is to setup the operational dynamics environment at the customer. Beside installation, configuration and feature deployment, the phase focuses on testing at system level. So you have to run the user acceptance tests, process tests, security tests and load tests as defined in the test plan. When the system runs and all tests pass the deployment phase is finished.
• Operation:
• Optimization:
• Upgrade:

More links:
http://www.albaspectrum.com/V2.0/Services/SureStep_Methodology.pdf
http://www.axaptapedia.com/Sure_Step_Methodology