The History and Origins of Microsoft Solutions Framework

MSF is in its fourth iteration. This version update, like previous version updates, comes in response to changing environments and an increased and broader understanding of how teams deliver solutions. The original version of MSF was first introduced in 1994 as a loose collection of best practices from Microsoft's product development efforts and Microsoft Consulting engagements. As shown in Figure 1-1, MSF has been evolving ever since based on deliberate learning from successful, real-world best practices of Microsoft product groups, Microsoft Consulting, Microsoft's internal Operations and Technology Group (OTG), Microsoft partners, and customers. Elements of MSF are based on well-known industry best practices and incorporate Microsoft's more than 30 years of experience in the high-tech industry. These elements are designed to work together to help practitioners and managers address many significant challenges encountered throughout a technology life cycle.

Figure 1-1. Origins of MSF

MSF uses this pool of real-world best practices, which have been proved both internally and externally. It simplifies, consolidates, and verifies them for easier understanding and adoption. Now a robust and mature framework, MSF is managed and developed by a dedicated product team within Microsoft, with guidance and review from an international advisory council of subject matter experts. MSF also continues to draw upon current Microsoft experience. Other teams within various Microsoft lines of business regularly create, find, and share best practices and tools internally. Learning from these internal project efforts is consolidated and distributed outside of Microsoft through MSF.