EPC Group launches seven-phase Microsoft project model

By AI, Created 4:21 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – EPC Group on May 15 published a seven-phase Engagement Operating Model for Microsoft enterprise work, aiming to standardize delivery across Power BI, Fabric, Purview, Copilot, SharePoint, Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365 projects. The firm says the model is designed to reduce scope creep, improve accountability and give buyers more predictable fixed-fee engagements.

Why it matters: - EPC Group is packaging Microsoft consulting delivery as a standardized operating model, not just a technical implementation plan. - The company is targeting a common buyer pain point: inconsistent project management, unclear escalation paths and weak senior-architect involvement. - The model is meant to support fixed-fee predictability across enterprise Microsoft work, including regulated and multi-track deployments.

What happened: - EPC Group published the Engagement Operating Model, a seven-phase standard for Microsoft enterprise engagements. - The release covers Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Copilot, SharePoint, Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365 implementations. - EPC Group framed the model as a response to patterns it has seen across more than 11,000 Microsoft implementations and more than 70 Fortune 500 engagements. - The full specification is available in the company’s announcement.

The details: - Phase 1, Discover, includes stakeholder interviews, a current-state architecture audit, business outcome mapping and a regulatory baseline for HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOC 2, FINRA and CMMC where applicable. - Phase 2, Architect, covers target-state architecture, integration design, data architecture, and security and governance design. - Phase 3, Plan, sets work breakdowns, RACI assignments, a risk register, a change control plan, a communication plan and steering committee cadence. - Phase 4, Build, uses iterative development with weekly status reports, bi-weekly steering committee readouts, real-time risk escalation and continuous artifact updates. - Phase 5, Validate, includes user acceptance testing, performance testing, security testing, compliance validation and training material development. - Phase 6, Deploy, includes cutover planning, go-live execution, hypercare, end-user training and adoption measurement. - Phase 7, Run, shifts work into managed service handoff or continuous improvement, with quarterly business reviews, adoption measurement and roadmap updates. - Each phase has named artifacts, including items such as a Discovery Report, Architecture Decision Record, Project Charter, Sprint Status Reports, UAT Sign-Off, Cutover Plan and Quarterly Business Review.

Between the lines: - The model appears designed to make delivery quality more visible to buyers before a contract is signed. - By defining artifacts, cadence and escalation points upfront, EPC Group is trying to reduce ambiguity that often shows up only after kickoff. - The emphasis on fixed-fee work suggests the company wants process discipline to serve as a commercial differentiator, not just a delivery framework.

What happened: - Every engagement under the model is led by a senior architect with at least 10 years of Microsoft enterprise consulting experience. - The senior architect is named in the statement of work, attends every steering committee meeting and stays accountable through Run state. - EPC Group says the senior architect’s name, credentials and Microsoft certifications appear on the project charter and weekly status reports. - Founder Errin O’Connor personally reviews every engagement architecture and signs off on every project charter.

What’s next: - EPC Group says the model applies to engagements of 200 users or more, fixed-fee accelerator programs, managed Microsoft Cloud and Analytics retainers, and multi-track Purview and Copilot engagements. - The standard is also intended for regulated industry deployments, including healthcare, financial services, federal contractor and defense environments. - The company says delivery will be remote-first from its North American consulting bench, with optional on-site discovery sessions in the U.S. and Canada.

The bottom line: - EPC Group is turning Microsoft consulting into a named, phase-based process with explicit accountability, aiming to compete on delivery discipline as much as technology expertise.