Amazing Apps - learn how to build agile Dynamics 365 and Power Platform business apps using Scrum

#138. Our guest today is Malin Martnes, a Microsoft MVP and MCT who runs her own company MaCoTra AS in Oslo, Norway. As you’ll hear, Malin doesn’t have any technical background on Dynamics 365 and Power Platform but she focuses on using these systems.In this episode, Malin talks about how she came to be a CRM consultant and set up her own consulting business. With years of experience as a user and trainer of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, she also discusses the integration of the HR solution with Finance & Operations, tips for deploying Dynamics 365 Marketing, and the events and training sessions she helped organize. Show Highlights [01:25] Malin’s background and how she got started as a CRM consultant[04:56] The story behind MaCoTra’s unusual name[10:06] Malin talks about the recently concluded Cloud Technology Townhall Tallinn 2023 event[15:16] Malin talks about the Norwegian Marketing Day she co-organized with fellow Microsoft MVP Guro Faller[18:31] Malin discusses the integration of Dynamics 365 Human Resources with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations[22:53] Who Dynamics 365 Marketing and ClickDimensions cater to[26:02] Malin discusses the projects she’s done with Dynamics 365 Marketing[29:25] How Dynamics 365 Marketing handles deliverability[35:35] Malin shares tips to be aware of when deploying Dynamics 365 Marketing[44:08] What’s next for Malin? Resources Malin's company: MaCoTra ASBecoming a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant by Malin MartnesConnect with Malin Martnes on LinkedIn, Twitter, or via her websiteCustomery AcademySupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

21 Mar 202354min

#137. Customery Academy is the online business through which Amazing Apps host, Neil Benson, trains and coaches Microsoft customers and partners to build amazing, agile business applications.In this episode, Neil shares a short history of Customery Academy, where it's at today, and its goals for 2023. Halfway through editing the episode, there's a surprise about just how many Customery Academy students have achieved their Professional Scrum Master certification thanks to his son's detective work.RESOURCESCustomery AcademyAgile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps free courseScrum for Microsoft Business Apps courseWinning Agile Projects masterclass for Microsoft partnersEstimating Business Apps courseNew Zenler online course platformAmazing Applications podcastPodpage podcast website hostingBonjoro personalised video serviceHumanitix ticketing checkoutStudio1Design web design agencyLouise Williams branding expertKarthik Vijaykumar from Design Your Thinking and The Launch Plan podcastBuyMeACoffeeReview Amazing Apps on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or AmazingApps.ShowCustomery on LinkedInSuperware.aiPeople mentionedBrian IllandHugues ImbeaultPaula DunlopDani Kahil<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbibby/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

22 Feb 202315min

136. My guest is Richard Hundhausen, a former Microsoft MVP and Regional Director, Scrum.org Professional Scrum Trainer, and co-creator of the Nexus Scaled Professional Scrum Framework. As you’ll hear, Richard doesn’t have a background in Dynamics 365 or Power Platform, but he’s no stranger to developing apps on Microsoft technology.In this episode, Richard talks about his experience working with Microsoft and how he got started with Scrum. Drawing from his over 30 years of software development experience and over 20 years of training experience, he also discusses the merits of big bang releases versus incremental releases, product thinking versus project thinking, and what’s next with Scrum.Show Highlights [06:07] Richard’s Scrum origin[13:55] Richard’s guidelines for helping a team decide when to adopt Scrum[20:56] On the interplay between Scrum and DevOps[26:06] How product owners can be successful[31:32] Big bang releases versus incremental releases[34:53] The origins of Nexus Scaled Scrum Framework[44:03] Where Scrum is headed nextResourcesAccentientNexus Scaled Professional Scrum FrameworkProfessional Scrum Development with Azure DevOps by Richard HundhausenConnect with Richard Hundhausen on LinkedIn or Twitter"Flaccid Scrum" by Martin Fowler“Should Our Team Use Scrum?” by Richard Hundhausen“Larman’s Laws of Organizational Behavior” by Craig Larman“Role of Manager” by LeSS"Resurrecting the Much-Maligned Scrum of Scrums" by Charles Bradley"unSAFe at any speed" by Ken SchwaberSupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

15 Feb 202352min

#135. Remy is starting to hate Scrum. He thinks we should use Kanban. And get rid of Product Owners. It's a shame, then, that Remy doesn't understand Scrum. And doesn't want to understand Scrum.Don't be like Remy.ResourcesKanban Guide on Kanban UniversityProfessional Scrum with Kanban training from Scrum.orgSupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

8 Feb 202311min

#134. Rishona Elijah is a Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer, who works as a Power Platform Trainer and Evangelist at Barhead Solutions in Sydney, Australia. She spends most of her time running training sessions and delivering events around Power Platform to business users to show them what they can achieve with this technology.In this episode, Rishona shares how she got started in Business Applications, how she uses her blog to help business users, and the latest innovations with Power Virtual Agents. Rishona also talks about whether Power Fx is really part of a low-code platform and new features from Microsoft’s acquisition of Nuance that are being incorporated into Power Platform.Show Highlights[02:05] Rishona’s work at Barhead Solutions[05:47] What Rishona blogs about[07:38] The latest innovations with Power Virtual Agents[13:25] On whether Power Fx dispels Microsoft’s promise of no-code solutions[16:40] The types of people that attend Rishona’s training sessions[21:32] The latest innovations with Power Automate[25:22] How Rishona got into Business Applications[26:47] Rishona’s advice for people thinking about a career in Business Applications ResourcesBarhead SolutionsConnect with Rishona on LinkedIn, Twitter, or TikTokCheck out Rishona’s blogCustomery AcademyEstimating Business ApplicationsSupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

31 Jan 202331min

#133. Today’s guest is Michael Roth, a Power Platform consultant with Avanade who specializes in governance.In this episode, Michael walks us through how he keeps business apps amazing by working on only the fun stuff, i.e., governance and licensing, and understanding how users experience tech, specifically Power Platform.Michael also highlights the importance of governance and shares with us some of the biggest mistakes he sees organizations make when they don’t consider governance, what he would like to see Microsoft improve, and more.Show Highlights[03:04] How Michael got into business applications[08:06] The types of people that typically think about governance[12:10] Mistakes organizations make when they don’t consider governance[17:05] How Michael thinks of the Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence starter kit[22:20] Benefits of Managed Environments for customers[26:52] What Michael would like to see Microsoft work on next[29:20] On fusion teams and fusion development[35:38] Michael’s style and take on feminismResourcesScrum for Microsoft Business Apps. Learn Scrum, achieve your PSM1 certification, apply successful Scrum patterns to Dynamics 365 and Power Platform apps.AvanadeCustomery on LinkedInConnect with Michael on Twitter or LinkedInCheck out Michael’s blogSupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

4 Jan 202341min

132. Today’s guest is Andrew Ly, a Microsoft Business Applications Solutioning Lead at IBM Consulting in Australia.Andrew shares his 22 years of experience in the Microsoft space, including the type of work he does and the clients he works with.Andrew also gives his two cents on the low-code, no-code approach and talks about the demand of in a day trainings like App-in-a-Day sessions, Figma, and Power Platform applications.Show Highlights[02:48] Andrew’s background and what it’s like living and working in Australia[05:13] What Andrew and Neil do to keep fit these days[06:58] Andrew’s life at IBM, the type of work he does, and the clients he’s working with[09:50] Maximizing the benefit of having sales systems, and building apps that work the way the individual does[11:31] On helping clients scale up and scale out, and get out of challenging situations[16:59] App in a Day sessions’ demand today[19:05] Training programs that are centered around creating a sense of community internally[24:30] On the acquisition of Figma and why it’s a great tool[31:50] Technology overlapping with Biz Apps, including virtual reality[39:09] Andrew’s suggestions on which areas to specialize in[42:51] Andrew’s plans, including doing more coding and speaking sessionsResourcesConnect with Andrew on Twitter, YouTube or LinkedInRead Andrew's blog: 365lyf PCF GallerySupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

13 Des 202249min

#131. Today’s guest is Magnus Gether Sørensen, a Dynamics 365 Field Service expert at Delegate in Denmark. Magnus shares with us some of the Field Service projects he has worked on, as well as the interesting challenges that his customers have encountered using the application.Plus, Magnus talks about what’s new and next for Field Service and gives a few tips for teams implementing the application. Episode Highlights[0:30] Magnus’ background and his career in business applications[03:29] Magnus’ experience using Dynamics 365 Field Service[06:27] The challenges of using Field Service in Denmark[10:03] On whether Field Service is often integrated with back-office systems[10:58] Demand for resource scheduling optimization[13:45] Comparing Field Service and Resco[17:08] What's new and next for Dynamics 365 Field Service[22:06] Features and changes that Magnus would like to see Field Service implement[24:07] Top three lessons Magnus has for teams building or deploying Field Service[27:44] Magnus’ experience co-organizing Nordic Summit 2022[30:10] On why the Nordic Summit is a free event ResourcesDelegate.dkDelegate on LinkedInConnect with Magnus on Twitter or LinkedInFollow the Power Platform Weekly newsletter on TwitterRead Magnus’ blog at XRM.DEVSupport the showCONNECT🌏 Amazing Apps website🟦 Customery on LinkedIn🟦 Neil Benson on LinkedIn MY ONLINE COURSES🚀 Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps 🏉 Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps 📐 Estimating Business Apps Keep experimenting 🧪-Neil

24 Nov 202237min