Identifying the Deployment Project Participants

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

The first step in establishing an Active Directory deployment project is to establish the design and deployment project teams who will be responsible for managing the design phase and deployment phase of the Active Directory project cycle. In addition, you must identify the individuals and groups who will be responsible for owning and maintaining the directory after the deployment is completed. Figure 2.4 shows the process for identifying the Active Directory deployment project participants.

Figure 2.4   Identifying Active Directory Project Participants

The design and deployment teams that you establish consist of individuals who understand the various needs of the organization. This includes members of IT groups in your organization who are responsible for network engineering and network planning with respect to directory services. It is important that the project teams include forward-looking IT managers who are responsible for the future growth of your networking environment, as well as individuals who are familiar with the Active Directory deployment process.

It is also important to include in the project teams individuals, called owners, who will be responsible for maintaining the directory when the deployment process is complete. After Active Directory is deployed, the owners ensure that service levels are maintained and are responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the directory. Owners are usually IT managers who oversee the groups or teams of network administrators that perform the hands-on work.