Course Outline
Module 1: An Introduction to PowerApps for Government
This module introduces Microsoft Flow, which has revolutionized the way business processes are automated. Traditionally, automating these processes required developers with coding expertise and deep knowledge of interconnected systems. However, modern systems increasingly emphasize end-user design and management, empowering users to enhance their business solutions without extensive technical skills. Microsoft Flow brings workflow design to a broader audience, offering tools for both lightweight and critical business processes. This module provides an overview of the product and its integration with Office 365 and third-party services.
Lessons
- What is Microsoft Flow?
- The benefits of automation for government
- How to access Flow
Lab: Setting Up Your Tenant
- Set up Office 365
- Download course files
- Customize your App Launcher
- Create accounts for colleagues
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand what Microsoft Flow is
- Identify the benefits of using Flow to automate processes
- Access a flow
Module 2: Getting Started with Flow for Government
In this module, we delve into building your first business process with Microsoft Flow. We will explore how to use templates to get started quickly or begin with a blank template for more customized processes. You will receive a tour of the editor, workflow management page, and home screen to help you navigate the product effectively. Next, we will guide you through adding, editing, and removing actions from your workflow template to tailor it to specific business needs. Once ready, we will publish and trigger the workflow to ensure it functions as intended. The module concludes with instructions on how to activate, deactivate, or delete a flow.
Lessons
- Using Flow templates
- Navigating in Flow
- Editing a Flow
- Publishing and triggering a Flow
- Turning off or deleting a Flow
Lab: Building Processes in Office 365 for Government
- Create a Team with a channel
- Build an absence business process
- Test the absence process
- Optional: Create a Feedback Form
- Optional: Flow to Notify of Bad Ratings
- Optional: Test your Form and Flow
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Use Flow templates effectively
- Navigate around Flow
- Edit flows
- Publish and trigger flows
- Turn off or delete flows
Module 3: Flow Logic for Government
Decision-making in business processes can often create bottlenecks. Waiting for decisions or information to guide the workflow can be time-consuming. This module explores how logic in a workflow can streamline processes by using existing information, such as document properties or form entries, to direct the flow of tasks. By implementing conditions, switches, and other logical constructs, you can speed up workflow duration and minimize human input. We will cover the core logic features in Flow and provide practical applications for each.
Lessons
- Adding conditions
- Designing switches
- Using apply to each
- Configuring do until logic
- Adding a scope
Lab: Scheduling Documentation Reviews for Government
- Set up a policy library in SharePoint
- Design a policy review schedule
- Test the policy review process
- Optional: Notify if a file nears review
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Add conditions in a flow
- Design switches for a flow
- Use apply to each
- Configure do until logic
- Add a scope
Module 4: Integration for Government
Many organizations use a variety of productivity tools and services beyond Office 365, such as marketing teams using social media platforms or sales teams utilizing customer management systems. Microsoft Flow provides connectors for popular services, allowing your processes to extend beyond Office 365 to other web services. Additionally, connections can be established with on-premises servers, enabling integration with in-house business systems.
Lessons
- Standard and premium connectors
- Connecting to web services
- Using Flow with on-premises data
Lab: Using Flow and SQL to Review Sales for Government
- Create a new orders list
- Design the price check process
- Test the price check process
- Optional: Update with managers
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Use standard and premium connectors
- Connect to web services
- Integrate Flow with on-premises data
Module 5: The Mobile App for Government
The Microsoft Flow mobile app enhances the functionality of Flow by allowing users to build and manage flows directly from their smartphones or tablets. It offers features such as editing, viewing history, saving copies, disabling, and deleting flows. Users can also approve or reject decisions sent via Flow and receive push notifications. Additionally, custom buttons can be created in the app to trigger specific flows. This module will detail the capabilities of the mobile app for government use.
Lessons
- Downloading the mobile app
- Signing in and account management
- Building and managing flows
- Creating buttons
- Feeds and approvals
Lab: Optional: Using the Flow Mobile App for Government
- Set up the Flow mobile app
- Create a new flow in the mobile app
- Use flow buttons in the app
- Uninstall the Flow mobile app
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Download and install the mobile app
- Sign into the mobile app
- Build and manage flows in the mobile app
- Create buttons in the mobile app
- Manage feeds and approvals in the mobile app
Module 6: Administration and Maintenance for Government
In our final module, we will explore how organizations can manage their Flows once they have been widely adopted. We will discuss managing individual flows by using history to identify issues, implementing error handling, and analyzing usage trends. Sharing flows with colleagues for collaborative maintenance will also be covered, along with importing and exporting flows. Finally, we will examine how Office 365 administrators can configure high-level settings to ensure data segregation and security.
Lessons
- Maintaining a flow
- Viewing history and analytics
- Sharing a flow
- Exporting and importing flows
- Office 365 administration for Flow
- Environments
- Data policies
- Data integration
Lab: Maintaining Your Flows for Government
- Share a flow with a colleague
- Disable an active flow
- Delete a flow
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Maintain a flow
- View history and analytics for a flow
- Share a flow with colleagues
- Export and import flows
- Administer a flow in Office 365
- Implement data policies in a flow
- Integrate data in a flow
Requirements
Before attending this course for government, participants must have:
- No prior experience with Flow is necessary
