Every Microsoft BPW follows the same shape. Knowing the shape lets you walk into any of the 14 process workshops with the same playbook, only the process-specific questions change.
Workshop Hierarchy
flowchart TD
A[Scenario Board Workshop\nBreadth pass: 90-120 mins] --> B{Deep-Dive Workshops\nDepth pass per L2 Area}
B --> C[L2: Develop procurement strategy]
B --> D[L2: Manage supplier relationships]
B --> E[L2: Procure goods and services]
C --> F((Requirements Log & Gap List))
D --> F
E --> F
style A fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:2px,color:#0369a1
style B fill:#f1f5f9,stroke:#64748b,stroke-width:2px,color:#334155
style C fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#94a3b8,color:#475569
style D fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#94a3b8,color:#475569
style E fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#94a3b8,color:#475569
style F fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:2px,color:#166534
Two layers of workshop per process
- Scenario board discovery workshop, the breadth pass. One workshop per process. The output is an agreed scope: which scenarios are in, which are out, which are gaps. Roughly 90–120 minutes.
- Deep-dive discovery workshops, the depth pass. One per L2 process area inside the process (e.g. 75.40 Procure Goods and Services inside Source to pay). Held after the scenario board, with a narrower stakeholder group.
Standard agenda (every workshop)
- Introduction and objectives (10–15 min)
- Overview of the process, walk the scenario board left-to-right (15–20 min)
- Detailed discussion on key scenarios (45 min, the longest block)
- Interactive Q&A (20–30 min)
- Wrap-up, decisions, action items, next steps (10 min)
The three objectives, every time
- Understand the customer's process, their as-is flow, their pain points, where it bends.
- Identify key scenarios & requirements, what's most critical for them and what is a deal-breaker.
- Document agreed business scope, leave the room with a written, signed-off list of in-scope scenarios.
The scenario board
Scenario Board Example (Source to Pay)
L2 Areas are columns. Scenarios are marked as In Scope, Out of Scope, or Gap.
flowchart TD
subgraph S2P [Complete Source to Pay Scenario Board]
subgraph L2A [75.10 Develop strategy]
A1[75.10.010 Policies]:::inScope
A2[75.10.020 Catalogs]:::inScope
A3[75.10.030 Spend analysis]:::gap
end
subgraph L2B [75.30 Manage supplier relations]
B1[75.30.010 Supplier onboarding]:::inScope
B2[75.30.020 Supplier performance]:::outScope
B3[75.30.030 Supplier collaboration]:::inScope
end
subgraph L2C [75.35 Source & contract]
C1[75.35.010 Manage RFQs]:::inScope
C2[75.35.020 Purchase agreements]:::inScope
C3[75.35.030 Contract compliance]:::gap
end
subgraph L2D [75.40 Procure goods/services]
D1[75.40.010 Purchase requisitions]:::inScope
D2[75.40.020 Purchase orders]:::inScope
D3[75.40.030 Receiving]:::inScope
D4[75.40.040 Quality inspection]:::outScope
end
subgraph L2E [75.50 Manage accounts payable]
E1[75.50.010 Invoice processing]:::inScope
E2[75.50.020 Invoice matching]:::inScope
E3[75.50.030 Payment runs]:::inScope
E4[75.50.040 Expense reports]:::gap
end
end
classDef inScope fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,color:#166534
classDef outScope fill:#fee2e2,stroke:#dc2626,color:#991b1b,text-decoration:line-through
classDef gap fill:#fef9c3,stroke:#eab308,color:#854d0e
The scenario board is a one-page flowchart that runs across the top of the room. Each L2 area is a column; under each column are the scenarios and policy decisions to discuss. Run it left to right. As scenarios are discussed: highlight what's in scope, strike through what's out, add any missing ones as gaps. The marked-up board is the artifact you walk out with, photograph it before anyone leaves.