Course Outline
Module 1: Microsoft Power Platform Architecture and Strategic Business Value
This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the Microsoft Power Platform as an enterprise-grade digital transformation tool, exploring its role in accelerating low-code citizen IT development, boosting productivity for non-technical staff, and aligning technology investments with measurable organizational outcomes.
1.1 The Evolution of Low-Code and Citizen IT Development
- The transition from traditional development to low-code/no-code platforms in enterprise settings
- Defining the citizen IT developer role and its impact on reducing IT backlogs
- Gartner's Hype Cycle for Citizen App Development and industry adoption trends
- Calculating ROI for low-code digital transformation initiatives
- Measuring productivity gains through citizen IT developer programs
1.2 Enterprise Architecture and Integration Landscape
- Navigating the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem: Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365
- Power Platform architecture for enterprise-scale solutions
- Integration patterns with existing ERP and CRM systems
- Understanding connectors: native, custom, and Premium connector types
- Power Platform capacity planning and licensing models (per-user, per-app, or per-flow)
Market-Aligned Competencies: Digital Transformation Strategy, Enterprise Architecture Alignment, Technology ROI Assessment, Low-Code Platform Governance Strategy, Cross-Functional Stakeholder Alignment, Business Case Development
Module 2: Power Platform Components, Solutions Architecture, and Data Foundation
A deep dive into each Power Platform service component, the architecture of Canvas Apps versus Model-Driven Apps, data modeling fundamentals with Dataverse, and understanding Power Apps controls, formulas, and data visualization principles.
2.1 Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps: Architecture and Use Cases
- Canvas Apps: Design-first approach, custom controls, and responsive design principles
- Model-Driven Apps: Data-first approach, form design, business rules, and views
- Solution architecture choices: When to use Canvas, Model-Driven, or both
- Understanding Power Fx language fundamentals (Set, LookUp, Patch, Filter functions)
- Component framework (PCF) controls for custom visualizations and interactions
2.2 Microsoft Dataverse and Data Modeling
- Dataverse as the foundational data platform for Power Platform
- Tables (entities), columns, relationships, and data types in Dataverse
- Importing, exporting, and managing data (Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, CSV)
- Power BI integration with Dataverse for analytics-enabled applications
- Managed and unmanaged solutions for environment isolation
Market-Aligned Competencies: Low-Code Application Architecture, Canvas App Development, Model-Driven App Architecture, Power Fx Formula Language, Microsoft Dataverse Data Modeling, Solution Design and Architecture, Data Integration and Connectivity
Module 3: Intelligent Automation with Power Automate and Process Analysis
Comprehensive coverage of automation capabilities, including cloud flows, desktop flows for desktop RPA, hybrid connectivity via gateways, approval automation, business process flows, and process mining to identify automation opportunities.
3.1 Cloud Flows and Business Process Automation
- Automated, instant, and scheduled cloud flows: triggers, actions, and conditions
- Approvals, conditions, controls, and loops in Power Automate
- Power Automate integration with Microsoft Teams for workplace collaboration
- Error handling: configuring actions when a flow fails
- Business Process Flows (BPF) for guided, multi-stage processes
3.2 Desktop RPA and Hybrid Scenarios
- Introduction to Power Automate Desktop (PAD): record-and-playback automation
- Automating legacy applications, UI-based workflows, and desktop RPA scenarios
- Data gateways: On-premises data gateway for hybrid connectivity
- Scheduled cloud flows triggering desktop flows for end-to-end automation
3.3 Process Discovery and Mining
- Power Automate Process Mining for identifying process bottlenecks
- Audit trails, flow runs, and process analytics for continuous optimization
- Identifying high-value automation candidates through data analysis
Market-Aligned Competencies: Business Process Automation (BPA), Workflow Orchestration, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Desktop Process Automation, Process Mining and Analysis, Approval Management Systems, Enterprise Workflow Strategy, Operational Process Optimization, Business Analysis and Process Mapping
Module 4: Data Analytics and Visualization with Power BI
Practical understanding of Power BI's role within the Power Platform ecosystem, covering data connectivity and transformation principles, report design, dashboard creation, and self-service business intelligence for non-technical stakeholders.
4.1 Power BI Fundamentals and Data Transformation
- Power BI service vs Power BI Desktop: Knowing when and where to use each
- Data connectivity: importing from Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, web sources, and Dataverse
- Power Query fundamentals: ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) for business users
- Creating relationships between tables and building data models
4.2 Report, Dashboard, and Visualization Design
- Selecting the right visuals: bar charts, line charts, maps, KPIs, and custom visuals
- Best practices for dashboard storytelling and executive data visualization
- Publishing, sharing, and subscribing to Power BI reports across the organization
- Row-level security (RLS) concepts for data governance in Power BI
Market-Aligned Competencies: Business Intelligence (BI), Data Visualization and Analytics, Data Storytelling, Self-Service BI, Data Modeling, Report Development and Design, ETL Fundamentals, Power Query, Dashboard Design and Strategy, Actionable Business Insights, Executive Reporting
Module 5: AI-Powered Development with Microsoft Copilot, AI Builder, and Copilot Studio
This module addresses the rapidly growing area of AI-assisted and AI-driven development in the Power Platform market. It covers Microsoft Copilot across all Power Platform components, AI Builder with custom and pre-built AI models, and Copilot Studio (formerly Power Virtual Agents) for enterprise conversation bots.
5.1 Microsoft Copilot Across the Power Platform
- Copilot in Power Apps: Natural language to app generation and component creation
- Copilot in Power Automate: Natural language flow generation and intelligent automation
- Copilot in Power BI: AI-driven insight generation and report creation
- Copilot in Power Pages: Context-aware website and portal development
- Prompt engineering principles for effective AI-assisted development
- Proven Copilot techniques and power-user tips to maximize productivity
5.2 AI Builder and Pre-Built AI Models
- Pre-built AI model categories: Text Recognition, Object Detection, Key Phrase Extraction, Language Detection, and Sentiment Analysis
- Credit-based AI model consumption and billing considerations
- Integrating AI Builder into Power Apps and Power Automate
5.3 Custom AI Model Development
- Building custom Power Automate Document Processing models for form understanding
- Custom prediction models for classification and regression tasks
- Training, evaluating, and deploying custom models in production
- Form processing for structured and unstructured document workflows
5.4 Copilot Studio for Intelligent Conversational Bots
- Introduction to Copilot Studio: AI-powered enterprise conversational bot authoring
- Chatbot design principles: NLU (Natural Language Understanding), intent creation, and entity recognition
- Bot publishing channels: Teams, websites, Power Pages, and Microsoft Viva
- Bot governance, monitoring, and continuous improvement via conversational analytics
- Enterprise-grade chatbot governance and compliance considerations
Market-Aligned Competencies: Microsoft Copilot for Power Platform, AI-Assisted Development, Intelligent Automation, AI Model Development and Deployment, Conversational AI and Chatbot Design, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Enterprise AI Integration, Prompt Engineering for Low-Code, Document Processing AI, Responsible AI Principles, Intelligent Process Automation, Generative AI Application Development
Module 6: Power Platform Governance, Security, and Deployment Lifecycle
An enterprise governance module addressing a critical gap in standard fundamentals courses. It covers Power Platform administration, security models, ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), compliance frameworks, and the responsible use of AI in organizational deployments.
6.1 Security and Permissions Architecture
- Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) identity and access management
- Security roles, privileges, and field-level security in Dataverse
- Row-level security and hierarchical security in Dataverse
- Environment variables and default values for solution portability
6.2 Governance, Administration, and Compliance
- Power Platform admin center: Environments, resource connectors, and capacity management
- Policies and administrative monitoring: data loss prevention (DLP) policies
- Microsoft Purview integration: Information protection and compliance
- Power Platform CoE (Center of Excellence) Toolkit for governance at scale
- Managing premium connectors and environment administration policies
6.3 Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and Deployment
- Environment strategies: Dev, Test, Prod environment design
- Managed vs unmanaged solutions, solution layers, and dependencies
- Solution-based ALM: Deployment pipelines for automated test-to-prod transitions
- Power Platform CLI and Azure DevOps integration for CI/CD
- Version control strategies and solution-driven development
6.4 Responsible AI and Ethical Technology Use
- Microsoft's Responsible AI principles for Power Platform developers
- AI transparency, fairness, and data privacy in AI-powered applications
- Auditing and logging for compliance readiness (AI Builder models, flows, and bots)
- Sustainable technology: Power Platform's role in digital sustainability goals
Market-Aligned Competencies: Power Platform Governance, Enterprise Security Architecture, Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) Security, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), Deployment Pipeline Management, CI/CD for Low-Code, Microsoft Purview Compliance, Center of Excellence (CoE), Solution-Driven Development, Responsible AI Implementation, Digital Compliance Management, IT Governance Strategy, Low-Code Governance Best Practices
Module 7: Power Pages, Custom Connectors, and Enterprise Integration Patterns
Exploration of external-facing capabilities and advanced integration patterns, covering Power Pages (external websites with minimal coding), custom connector development, and comprehensive integration patterns across the Power Platform ecosystem for enterprise scenarios.
7.1 Power Pages for External-Facing Websites
- Introduction to Power Pages: Multi-tenant low-code web portal development
- Website design themes, templates, and component customization
- Building and configuring web forms and external user accounts
- Webhooks and API exposure for external service integration
7.2 Custom Connectors and API Integration
- Creating custom connectors using OpenAPI definitions
- Custom connector authentication and security configurations
- Integration with third-party REST APIs and external business systems
Market-Aligned Competencies: Power Pages Web Development, Low-Code Web Portal Architecture, Custom API Connector Development, REST API Integration, Webhook Management, External-Facing Solution Architecture, Multi-Tenant Portal Management, Citizen IT Developer Strategy, Digital Workplace Enablement
Module 8: Capstone Project and PL-900 Certification Preparation
A hands-on, project-based capstone mirroring real-world citizen IT developer scenarios, followed by structured PL-900 exam preparation to ensure candidates can pass the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals certification on their first attempt.
8.1 Capstone Project: End-to-End Power Platform Solution
- Scenario-based project: Design a complete business solution using Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI
- Build a Canvas App with Dataverse as the data source
- Automate a cross-system workflow using Power Automate cloud flows and approvals
- Create an interactive Power BI dashboard powered by the same data
- Implement basic governance using DLP policies and solution deployment
8.2 PL-900 Certification Preparation
- PL-900 exam objectives breakdown and knowledge gaps analysis
- Azure Fundamentals overlap and differentiation from PL-900
- Practice exam strategies, time management, and common pitfalls
- Official Microsoft Learn learning paths and self-assessment resources
Market-Aligned Competencies: PL-900 Certification Preparation, Microsoft Certification Strategy, Capstone Solution Architecture, Integrated Business Solution Delivery, Cross-Product Integration, End-to-End Solution Design, Professional Certification Management, Real-World Scenario Problem Solving, Citizen IT Developer Assessment
Requirements
This exam targets users aiming to boost productivity by automating business processes, analyzing data to derive business insights, and enhancing decision-making by creating straightforward application experiences.
Testimonials (2)
We did quite complex examples, so we could get a feeling of how the real work with Power Automate Desktop can look like in the real world scenario.
Michal Strnad - MicroNova AG
Course - Microsoft Flow/Power Automate
Dynamic, adaptive, and informative
