Are you preparing for IT certification? With practice questions, study notes, interactive quizzes, tips and technical articles, uCertify PrepKits ensure that you get a solid grasp of core technical concepts to
ace your certification exam in first attempt.
The envisioning phase is the first phase of the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) process model. Envisioning means creating a high-level view of a project's goals, constraints, and solution. During the envisioning phase, various tasks are identified that address the goals and constraints of the project. An estimate of the required resources of the project is also made. Following are the key tasks performed during the envisioning phase:
- Setting up the team: The first task during the envisioning phase is to assemble a project team. The organization aims at setting skills appropriate to the project. The project team identifies the user and business requirements and goals of the project. It also sets different expectations within the organization.
- Defining the project structure: The project team defines the structure of the project. The team also manages and supports the project by using communication and documentation standards.
- Defining the business goals: The team determines the objectives for the solution by identifying business problems or opportunities. The team's main objective is to overcome business problems that obstruct the path towards the successful completion of the project.
- Assessing the current situation: The team evaluates the current business situation. The team analyzes the difference between the current and the expected business situation. A gap analysis is performed to identify a path towards the desired state of a business. The team also identifies and outlines the scope of the project.
- Defining requirements and user profiles: The project team determines the requirements of business stakeholders, sponsors, and end users. These requirements provide the formation of the solution concept. They also provide a basis for more detailed requirements in the planning phase.
- Developing the solution concept: After identifying the business problems and scope of the project, the team creates the solution concept. The team performs several types of analysis that include feasibility studies, risk analysis, usability studies, and performance analysis.
- Assessing risk: The project team identifies various risks that can occur during the solution development. The team creates risk mitigation plans to deal with them during the envisioning phase, and continues this process throughout the project. Risk can be defined as the possibility of a negative outcome. Risks are managed by anticipating, addressing, mitigating, and preventing them. Prioritizing a risk enables the project team to address high-risk items early during the envisioning phase.
- Closing the Envisioning Phase: At the end of the envisioning phase, the project team is required to document the results of different tasks performed in this phase. The tasks are accomplished by a formal approval of the stakeholders and the project team.
After completing the envisioning phase, the project team progresses towards to the next phase, i.e. the planning phase of the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) process model.
