Microsoft Innovation Podcast

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/18Dynamics 365 Administrator at FordDay in a life of a Dynamics AdministratorThe roles and responsibilities and culture on a Dynamics 365 teamVendor and Partner engagementHow to motivate a teamMicrosoft as a vendorWorking with Microsoft PartnersHallmarks of an outstanding Microsoft PartnerDynamics 365 CommunityAddressing gender balance in the Dynamics 365 communityBooks MentionedBryce Courtenay https://amzn.to/2GlajbQResourcesFord https://www.ford.comMicrosoft Power Bi https://powerbi.microsoft.comAssistive Technology Blog–Venkat Rao http://assistivetechnologyblog.comSlack https://slack.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/17Bringing craftsmanship to the CRM tradeWhat is Presales for Dynamics 365Getting training for a presales roleThe toughest element of working in presalesDemonstrating the capabilities of Dynamics 365 to a customerCreating Demo’sMaintaining your demo environmentsBest practice for your demo environmentsRelationships between Presales and SalesHarvard Business Review titled “To Improve Sales, Pay More Attention to Presales““Distinct from marketing and sales operations, presales provides a specific set of activities that lead to qualifying, bidding on, winning, and renewing a deal.”“Souping up the presales engine can yield a five-point improvement in conversion rates, a 6–13% improvement in revenue, and a 10–20% improvement in the speed of moving prospects through the sales process.”Books MentionedSteve Jobs by Walter Isaacson http://amzn.to/2HTF3BoExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin http://amzn.to/2u4THUjThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday http://amzn.to/2HR6ETLDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport http://amzn.to/2u6dd2DMake Your Bed by William H. McRaven http://amzn.to/2Ga4h0ZNeil Benson – Scrum PodcastResourcesTed https://www.ted.comMarica Söderstam – Dynamics 365 Product OwnershipSoundCloud https://soundcloud.comThe Art of Manliness https://www.artofmanliness.com/category/podcast/ClickDimensions https://www.clickdimensions.comKingswaysoft https://www.kingswaysoft.comScrum for Dynamics 365 https://www.customery.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/16The difference in selling business application software to infrastructure softwareCustomer characteristics (IT or business)Changes in recent years in the way customers are acquiring Dynamics 365The typical timeframe to sell DynamicsCustomer engagement process in the Dynamics saleCustomer engagement post-saleTypical stakeholders in a Dynamics saleSetting up the pursuit team in a Dynamics saleThe part RFx, play in the sales processLead generationThe role of Pre-SalesSalesperson enablementDifferent customer profiles Government, Not for Profit and CommercialStaying on the cutting edge as a salespersonMicrosoft Partnership and relationship in the sales engagementBooks MentionedScar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis http://amzn.to/2HSx3jTMaster of Scale https://mastersofscale.comLinkedInResourcesIannarino https://thesalesblog.comMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Roadmap https://roadmap.dynamics.comOffice 365 Roadmap https://products.office.com/en-us/business/office-365-roadmap?filters=Microsoft Dynamics 365 Team blog https://community.dynamics.com/enterprise/b/365teamblogCRM User Group http://www.d365ugaustralia.com/ OR Http://crmug.comAustralian Chamber of Commerce https://www.australianchamber.com.auAustralia-Israel Chamber of Commerce http://www.aicc.org.auSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/15General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)Layperson's view of GDPRWhat is GDPR?Who is affected by the new regulation?Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partners and GDPRMicrosoft and GDPRDynamics 365 consultants and the effect GDPR will have on their rolesGDPR and Geography for all those outside the EUGDPR and the current Dynamics platformMarketing, Sales and Service – how will GDPR affect theseDynamics 365 Audit with Read Access and GDPRDynamics 365 Security and GDPRBooks MentionedTinTin http://amzn.to/2FgRMOfResourcesTechLabs http://techlabs.londonMicrosoft Trust Centre https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/TrustCenter/Privacy/gdpr/default.aspxEUGDPR https://www.eugdpr.orgTrello https://trello.comMicrosoft ToDo https://todo.microsoft.com/en-gbLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.comWunderlist https://www.wunderlist.com/365Saturdays http://365saturday.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/14Microsoft Business Applications in 2018Leading a 5000+ strong team at MicrosoftChallenges of leading a large teamManage competing prioritiesThe long-term future for on-premiseLeverage the power of Office365 and Azure for on-premiseEnterprise Microsoft FlowPowerAppsCommon Data Services (CDS)Customer focus for developmentMicrosoft Business Application for Microsoft PartnersMicrosoft partners that are executing well in Business ApplicationsAI and the role that it will play in the future of Business ApplicationsDynamics 365 https://dynamics.microsoft.comPowerApps https://powerapps.microsoft.comPower BI https://powerbi.microsoft.comMicrosoft Flow https://flow.microsoft.comBooks MentionedCompetitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance by Michael E. Porter http://amzn.to/2H7kHFaCompetitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael E. Porter http://amzn.to/2G4824zForged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times by Nancy Koehn http://amzn.to/2skhRczResourcesUber https://www.uber.com/invite/marks1145Strava https://www.strava.com/mobileZwift https://zwift.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/13Can Digital Transformation help Microsoft partners win more business?Type of skills a partner needs if they want to engage customers in their Digital Transformation journeyTraining programs on Digital Transformation for partnersTypical engagement types for Digital TransformationKey stakeholders that need to be involved for it to meet the objectivesGeorge Westerman | Principal Research Scientist with the MIT said: “When digital transformation is done right, it’s like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, but when done wrong, all you have is a really fast caterpillar.”John Hagel III | Co-Chairman at Deloitte LLP Centre for the Edge leaders, he says “Most of the executives I talk to are still very much focused on digital largely as a way to do “more of the same,” just more efficiently, quickly, cost-effectively. But I don’t see a lot of evidence of fundamentally stepping back and rethinking, at a basic level, ‘What business are we really in?’”Recommended next steps for those wanting more from Digital TransformationBooks MentionedDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink http://amzn.to/2qXdrHKThe Innovator's Method: Bringing the Lean Start-up into Your Organization by Nathan Furr & Jeff Dyer http://amzn.to/2D1eECNSprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky & Braden Kowitz http://amzn.to/2mkshTgResourcesDigital Infusions: digitalinfusions.comiTunes https://itunes.apple.comShazam https://www.shazam.com/gb/appsWonder Weeks https://www.thewonderweeks.com/about-the-wonder-week-app/Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/12The two parts of Digital TransformationWhat is Digital Transformation in a practical senseWhy should organisations care about Digital Transformation?What is hype and what is the reality with Digital TransformationWhat problems does Digital Transformation solve?How to sort through the hype of Digital TransformationWhat tools are there out there to help with Digital TransformationWhat type of organisations are embracing Digital TransformationThe Digital Transformation leadersThe Digital Transformation laggardsWhat should Microsoft partners be doing differently to engage customers with Digital TransformationSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/11Journey to Product Owner based on Dynamics 365Product LeadershipProduct owner of MMS built on the Dynamics 365 platformChallenges with being a product ownerHow is the product sold and marketed?How to future-proof your product when technology is always changingQuality controlRoadmap PlanningCreating and managing what goes into the roadmapHow to keep up with the changes that Microsoft releasesWhy use Dynamics 365?Challenges with using Dynamics 365Agile Product ManagementStrengths of Agile Development for long-term projectsA typical Agile dayMeeting Customer DemandsMeeting multiple customer demandsHow to manage expectationsBugs that customers reportComing up with innovative ideasIncorporating user feedbackCommunicating Product DevelopmentCommunication strategyTeam CooperationBuild team structure for your product developmentHow to keep the team excited about the product years after the product launchKey skills you need in a team that is building a product on Dynamics 365Books MentionedOutliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell http://amzn.to/2CjB55WThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell http://amzn.to/2Dst1wrResourcesInnofactor http://www.innofactor.comMMS http://www.innofactor.com/customers/kommunalThe Five Whys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_WhysProduct Auditing by FASTPATH https://www.gofastpath.com/grc-for-dynamics-365Headspace https://www.headspace.com (25% off link)Todoit https://en.todoist.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/10What are user adoption and change management?Faris Alkhaldy asks “What is it? And what is it all about?”The role of formal adoption methodologies such as ProsciFormal training programs availableWhy is adoption still such a common problem or complaint with CRMJanet Robb asks “What is the cost to a project where user adoption fails?”Common mistakes/pitfalls to avoidAdoption when staff are forced to use technology such as call centres or in retail environmentsWhat should IT or consultants do differently during implementationTop-down approach or a grassroots approachIain Wicks asks “What's the best, carrot or stick?”Bad advice about adoptionFeatures of Dynamics 365 that can help drive adoptionSantosh Jahagirdar asks “In a CRM rollout that also includes channel partners – what are some of the best practices, gotchas around adoption & on-boarding of such indirect employees?”Scott Millwood asks – “What is broken with CRM? There are still many, many more users that dislike using their corporate-mandated CRM than users that say they LOVE CRM and can't live without it. “Adoption” is fuzzy. Usage can be measured. What is the best usage metric that indicates true adoption, i.e. routine usage? What is the ONE thing that should be addressed with the product that could make it a LOVE to use vs a FORCED to use the product? Janet Robb asks – Why is it important to have a user adoption expert as part of an enterprise CRM project?Neil Parkhurst asks – “You are trying to implement Dynamics 365 into a team of field sales guys. They see little benefit in the data they need to collect as it is “just” for the managers. So, they see CRM as purely an admin overhead they don’t want. What are the top product features you’d train to help change this opinion?”Neil Benson asks – For teams using an agile framework or a slick DevOps process, we have the ability to release an update to production every week or even every day. How do we help users embrace daily changes to their Dynamics 365 apps?Shawn Tabor asks – What’s better for user adoption overall…implementing a known legacy process or providing effective organizational change management to introduce a new paradigm?Rick Chamberlain – CRM has many audiences it needs to serve. My experience has shown that marketing and sales are rarely in alignment until you ask them about the administration department. In that case, both will agree that they are “sales prevention. How do you present the value proposition to each audience so they not only use the system but also play nice in the sandbox with the others?Questions from Andre MargonoHow do you manage resistance are there any tips and tricks?How do you decide the right training and/or methodology to support smooth adoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/9Overview of the different methodologies used in Dynamics 365 ImplementationsUsing Agile on Dynamics 365 ProjectsCommunity Question: How do you decide the right methodology for the implementation? Agile/Waterfall/Hybrid. – Andre MargonoCommunity Question: Implementation approaches for version upgrades? (E.g. like for like and enhancements)? – Andrew LyCommunity Question: Common pitfalls of certain methodology & lesson learned? – Andre MargonoCommunity Question: Can fixed fee delivery work on a Dynamics 365 project? – Joel LindstromMicrosoft Dynamics Sure StepCommunity Question: How relevant is SureStep in today’s climate? – Andrew LyCommunity Question: What is the difference between Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step and Microsoft Lifecycle Services in your view? – Mohamed GomaaCommunity Question: Can you use Microsoft Lifecycle Services for Dynamics 365 Deployments as you can for Operations? – Mohamed GomaaCommunity Question: What are the techniques have you found most successful to map business processes you get from customers? – Nadeeja BomiriyaCommunity Question: Have you used XRM Metadata tools from (https://www.xrmtoolbox.com) for Dynamics 365 and have you found it's useful for redundant entity analysis? – Prash SinhaCommunity Question: What is the best way to categories work items (tasks to be completed by the team members) for features? – Nadeeja BomiriyaCommunity Question: What are best practices when taking over a project mid-way through with incomplete documentation? – Prash SinhaCommunity Question: What have you found works from a best practice point of view when it comes to toolsets for implementations? (Visual Studio, Jira etc.) What else? – Andre MargonoCommunity Question: What best practices have you seen in change management and overcoming user resistance? – Peter SchmidtCommunity Question: Human Centred Design: A consultative approach – Muhammad Asimuddin – LinkedIn post (Empathy in implementations) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/human-centred-design-consultative-approach-muhammad-asimuddinCommunity Question: What would you consider to be the main drivers of methodology choice?eg. would any of these factors inform your choice?project size, public vs private, industry, organization size, client organization’s approach to / experience level of change management. – AntonSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith