Abstract The Microsoft Dynamics Academic Alliance (DynAA) recently sponsored a two day training
entitled Applying Microsoft Dynamics AX in the University Classroom (e.g., visit
http://spots.gru.edu/tschultz/resources/DynamicsTeaching/AXInClassroom/DynAAAXInClassroomResources.html for a detailed agenda and supporting materials). Training was delivered
by faculty members of the DynAA: Jennifer Nightingale from Duquesne University, David Thomas of
bSolutions LLC and Tulsa Community College, and Todd Schultz from Georgia Regents University. This
report provides a recap of evaluations from the training and makes some recommendations for moving
forward.
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations
A review of the attached Appendix which provides a review of attendee evaluations leads to the
following conclusions and recommendations:
1. The training was of significant value to those who attended, directly addressed areas of interest
and concern to DynAA faculty members, and built understanding and enthusiasm for applying
Dynamics AX in the classroom. Even a shallow review of the evaluation results affirms this.
2. Using a team made up of DynAA members develop and deliver the training was particularly
effective in achieving the training goals. Not only does a team allow some trainers to assist
attendees while another trainer has the spotlight, the division among AX process knowledge, AX
technical infrastructure, and AX pedagogy among the trainers was critical to this recent success.
3. This course and/or similar training can be sharpened and honed a bit based on excellent
feedback provided by attendees. Some off the top:
a. More hands-on focused around a case;
b. Better guidance on supplying AX to students;
c. More detailed examples of pedagogy;
d. Inclusion of peripheral topics such as AX in the ERP space, use of SureStep, installation &
configuration, supporting infrastructure, business intelligence
4. This training should be followed up with an organized series of webinars which are archived for
distributed study. See also item 8.
5. Future training including a (near) repeat of this seminar plus others should be scheduled, both in
face-to-face and distributed formats. See also item 8.
6. Future training should provide more structure and preparation in terms of pre-work to make the
training time even more effective. See also item 8.
7. Having Microsoft sponsor and advertise the event as well as fund the venue and meals was a
very important factor; this goes beyond providing low-cost access to the training by providing a
strong ‘stamp of approval’ for the workshop.
8. Microsoft and the DynAA together need to consider how best to maintain and focus the
momentum and energy this training has brought about. To date much of our progress has been
through passionate evangelists within DynAA whose research, teaching, and service interests
have led them to invest in DynAA activities. We can count on this to continue is some fashion
and we can turn to the DynAA Advisory Council in conjunction with Microsoft to help identify,
e.g., which webinars, training, and concentrations are most productive. Looking into ways to
help heavily involved DynAA members fund their extra travel or participation should also be on
‘the radar’ to help ensure the stability and scalability of these efforts.
9. We really need to solve the hosting solution situation for AX. We still prevaricate a bit because
it’s still a complicated answer requiring ‘one off’ types of solutions. We are getting closer but in
addition to fanning enthusiasm we need to develop concrete non-technical answers to what to
do next for adoption.
Forthcoming Proposals
The team that delivered this training will be submitting proposals for webinars and future training over
the next few weeks. Any guidance Microsoft can provide for topic areas or emphases would be
welcome. Of course this all depends on the time and availability of the presenters for whom this is
something that gets squeezed in as we can make time.
As an ‘off the top’ list:
1. Repeat the training as another face-to-face as soon as possible (refined a bit based on feedback)
2. Webinars (& perhaps face-to-face training breakouts) each 1 hour focused on AX hands-on:
financials, procurement, marketing, sales, cost accounting, bills-of-materials, inventory
management, MRP & production planning.
3. Webinars and/or a one day course on using SureStep in the classroom.
4. Webinars & white paper on getting AX up and going in a VM or on a server as an instructor
‘sandbox’ and for advanced student use (probably not a good candidate for a face to face
seminar)
5. New training focused on configuration & setup. A bit specialized to the IT side but it will help
extend out of the focus on functional only coverage.
6. Guidance – not necessarily training – on how to get students in front of AX, teaching materials,
exercises, rubrics, etc. but organized for easy search & discovery.
Appendix – Evaluation Questionnaire Comments
Attendees were asked to complete a 13 item evaluation; each question has been copied below with
summary statistics where appropriate and comments from attendees.
1. As a result of this workshop I better understand Microsoft Dynamics AX and its capabilities as a
product in the ERP market.
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Disagree
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Agree
Very well prepared - Todd and Jennifer's talk are extremely good. David's demo of hands-on helped a
lot in understanding the functionalities - could be improved towards the complete illustration of a sales
cycle and/or purchasing cycle.
Information about the resources will definitely be a great starting point
Technical and different ERP systems capability were not discussed along with AX so I could better
understand how AX is better product than other with ERP systems in market.
Yes, from a transactional perspective
Session gave good insight into the product and it's capabilities
2. As a result of this workshop I have a base from which I can build my knowledge about using
Dynamics AX to a level where I could confidently bring exposure to Dynamics AX into my courses.
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Disagree
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Agree
I am convinced that Ax is the product our campus needs to provide to our students, in particular, who
have a major in business functions (e.g., supply chain management, CIS, marketing).
AX is a quite complex system. I feel I still need substantial self-learning using those coursewares to feel
confident. The workshop provides a useful base for me to locate those resources for learning AX.
Will work on it in the summer to try and develop a course based on AX
knowledge shared over 2 days training has given me confidence overall aspect of AX
Not from a setup perspective.
Great job by instructors. This product is hard to use in a class room without a cloud
environment. Much thanks to Doug Pitcher for allowing that to happen
3. As a result of this workshop I understand the current installation, virtualization, and hosting
options for instructor and student access to Dynamics AX.
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Disagree
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There are options to host Ax. It needs to be finalized quickly in order to move Ax into the classroom.
Some understanding. I still need to have some hands-on practice.
This is beyond my expertize level. However i am now aware of the options available
very less information was discussed, future web based session can focus on implementation and
migration from different ERP
No installation guidance. Yes to the other two aspects.
4. As a result of this workshop I have concrete examples of pedagogy and curriculum to help build
into components for use in my courses.
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Disagree
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Agree
Some early evidence was presented. More efforts required to come up with some easy-to-use textbook
and/or cases that can be adopted for Ax teaching and application development.
Listening to other instructors was a great help
the training emphasis was related to functional, I thought if following component were included in
course it will make student interesting in full cycle implementation of ERP. there should be
10% Architecture, 10% Implementation, 10% SureStep Documentation, 40% Functional , 10%
Development,10% Change Request, 10% Migration from different ERP
I got some ideas but more would be better. Hopefully as more people start using AX in the classroom,
we will have more material available. I would like to see some cases built around this product.
5. This workshop will have a positive change on my development are for learning Microsoft Dynamics
myself and including it in my courses.
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Disagree
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Agree
Presentations will be passed to the dept chair and college dean for serious consideration in using Ax as
our essential teaching tool in ERP/Business Process education.
Yes, I would like appreciate the training people helped me to gain confidence in AX
6. I would recommend this workshop to other faculty interested in building their competence in using
Dynamics AX.
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Disagree
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Agree
Of course. I personally will seek possible use of Ax for Healthcare Resource Management. Also, I will
send an email to all major players in Higher Education in the Midwest (mostly are CIS leaders) for them
to take a look at the PPT slides with my own strong recommendation to the adoption of this tool for ERP
education.
Try to create a buy-in from the accounting department
the example used was more related to functional, there shoud be different component of ERP like
10% Architecture, 10% Implementation, 10% SureStep Documentation, 40% Functional , 10%
Development,10% Change Request, 10% Migration from different ERP
7.
I would be interested in repeating this workshop if the logistics were convenient.
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When possible, at least one or two of our faculty members will be involved in this workshop.
tentative
8. I would be interested in a more advanced or more focused “level 2” workshop as a follow-on to this
one if the logistics were convenient.
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Disagree
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Agree
Yes. I will and would like to see more specific /organized teaching notes to be used in the
workshop. This requires some clearly defined "simple use case" that involves business-to-business
operations and the justification of Ax use in support of the Simple Use Case. It can be done by the
current leaders - Jennifer Nightingale, Todd, Hui Lee, and Dave.
Insights into the business process modeler would be great
Yes I would be interested.
Absolutely
9.
Overall, this workshop experience either met or exceeded my expectations.
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Yes, the contents are more than I expected. We just need the last mile - some simple teaching case
(notes). A textbook will be ideal for professors to get in without any difficulty in developing a semesterlong course.
Definitely surpassed my expectations.
Yes but more is needed
10. What one or two elements of the workshop were the most effective and should be increased or
emphasized moving forward?
(1) The hands-on training and sharing of course materials that use AX. (2) Build a network of faculty and
partners who share the common interest
1). Sharing of teaching successes; 2) Hands-on demonstration
training on tasks such as creating BOMs
The connection and interaction between trainers and trainees are very effective and should be
emphasized moving forward.
Networking with both partners and fellow academics
Hands-on Approach in solving real-world business problems; Incorporation of Dynamics within a course
AX Functional aspect training was most effective
Hands on training
I liked the focus and design of the workshop; I liked the hands on approach; I liked the pedagogical
approach
Hands on experience. Give us some problems or a case and turn us loose.
11. What one or two elements of the workshop were not effective and should be decreased or deemphasized moving forward?
N/A. I cannot think of anything at this moment.
1). examples that do not work (e.g., guarantee of system availability during the hands-on; no
unexpected error screens during the presentation). 2) no complete transaction cycle. Either a complete
cycle of Sales (from inventory searching to sales fulfillment) or a cycle of Purchasing (from sourcing of
vendors to the completion of a purchasing order) will be needed in order to enhance the value of
hands-on workshop.
AXSim..that was likely due to technical issues
The hands-on parts could not be followed easily. I feel the corresponding step-by-steps lab manuals are
needed to support the hands-on training. Some time could be allocated for us to go over the lab by
ourselves with assistance from trainers in case of questions.
Cant think of any, Everything was worthwhile for me
The explanation on system set up for a class/school/university was murky. I had a hard time
understanding this part.
Organizing & Delivering a Dynamics AX Class I & II should be decreased
Full setup of a vendor; Full setup of a customer; Full setup of a product; In other words, how to setup
the system with basic information needed to “create” the database that we are using.
I was interested in using the software and not the technical "back-end" stuff.
12. What one or two topics or titles would you suggest for follow-on face-to-face or online workshops?
(1) AX vs. GP (2) Share experience of teaching a course with AX components
A walk through of transaction posting (either sales or purchase) followed by the examination of the
ledger account (increase or decrease) with the status update on the financial statements - balance sheet
or income statement.
more on processes...
More hands-on on setting up a workflow and supply chain function.
Information on course-ware access.
The use of Dynamics in a Management Info Systems classroom
SureStep Documentation, AX Development, Migration from SAP and Oracle App etc to AX, connecting
different business systems(Sharepoint, CRM, Biztalk etc)
How to setup AP for use; How to setup AR for use; How to setup procurement for use; How to setup
project management for use
New materials developed.
13. Do you have any suggestions for how to make future workshops logistically convenient to a wide
spectrum of faculty? Locations? Times of year? Linked to academic meetings or other events?
I like this workshop precedes the Microsoft convergence. It is good to talk to consults who work with AX
in the daily life.
Ideally, choose a metropolitan that can be a hub for more than a dozen of universities, including
community colleges too. For example, Chicago will be an ideal location to out reach most higher ed
institutes in states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Participants can attend the event
within a 2.5 hours (one way) driving distance, a six-eight hours of training can be provided to all
attendees with a one day program. 10. What one or two elements of the workshop were the most
effective and should be increased or emphasized moving forward?
time of year is difficult for academics. having it on a weekend helped. i feel more training on AX and
how to do things (pay vendors for example) is most important
Webnars with archives may be used to supplement face-to-face training.
I think this timing worked perfectly for me. As this is right before my spring break. Location on the east
coast is always more convenient.
Maybe Summer
Linked to AIS in June and AAA in August
I think what we are missing is hoe the data gets there to begin with. We get a nice, complete database
but how it got there is another issue. I feel the training needs to start from the ground up as stated
earlier…how you setup each module in order for it to work. We are currently training from a
transactional basis but I still don’t know what data is in the system and how it got there. Overall, I
enjoyed the workshop and learned a lot about transactions and how to make them happen. However, I
still don’t know how to set the system up for use.
That's a tough question. Possibly early June as most of us are not teaching class at that time. I'm sure
everyone would like to come to Fargo.....right :) It would be nice not to have it wrapped around
Convergence and the Dynaa pre-conference. It's too long for professors to be away from the classes
they teach. Overall, a great two days of training and networking. I think breaking out beginners and
more advanced users would be advantageous in the future.