The rollout phase is when a version is deployed to the Production environment and becomes operational within the business unit. This requires planning and coordination across multiple units:
- Business / User Community
The end users of the solution need to be prepared for proper usage of the new version. This can often include training sessions by a designated solution trainer. Additionally, if there are any planned outages as a result of the deployment service window, the business needs to have clear understanding of the timelines and formulate contingency plans for operations during that window if there is an impact on them.
- Change Control / Operations
It is common in enterprises to task a team other than the implementation team with deployment solutions to the Production environment. This is typically handled via a release management, change control or operations team. As such, there must be proper coordination and planning to align deployment schedules with scheduled service windows; or if to plan an appropriate new service window. Additionally, the deployment team must have a clear set of instructions on what is required to deploy the solution.
- Operations / Application Support
In enterprises it is common to task a team other than the implementation team with handling first line application support issues. Accordingly the team that is tasked with providing tier 1 application support needs to be aware of the deployment as well as be provided any technical or operational guidance necessary. They often work with the Implementation Lead to formulate proper support and communications strategies.
Common roles that participate within this phase are outlined below.
Note: keep in mind that exact roles can change based upon specific project needs. Additionally, it is common for individual people to be responsible for more than one role.
Release Management / Change Control / Operations
Persons responsible for deploying the solution into new environments. In some organizations this is a team completely independent from the implementation / development team.
Project Manager
Tasked with coordinating with the various organization units to ensure proper procedures are followed and project plans reflects all tasks.
Implementation Lead
The lead from the implementation that is on hand to assist with general solution questions during the rollout cycle. Additionally the Implementation Lead works with the Operations team to assist with knowledge transfer and operational readiness to enable them to support the running solution. They can leverage other implementation team members on an as needed basis.
Solution Trainer
Persons tasked with training the user community on how to use the functionality of the new release.
Below outlines available supporting content for this section:
This is an example template that outlines the needs of all components within a solution that need to be moved and configured within a new environment in order for the solution to successfully execute. This is an overarching document that includes the overall guide to version deployment. There are sub sections that will call out to the below mentioned Application Check List.
This example document is intended to be used as an application artifact to assist with initial deployment but also ongoing application configuration validation. This document must highlight and stipulate what all settings must be to enable the relevant application to execute successfully. This Check List is often handed off to the Operations team as well and is used as a means of confirming baseline configuration in the event of a support issue that happens post deployment.