How “As-Is” Process Mapping Can Damage Your SAP Project

By |January 3rd, 2011|

Not only can the "As-Is" process mapping damage your project, but it also adds significant amounts of unnecessary cost. Throughout my experience in SAP projects, I have participated in the "As-Is” and “To-Be” processing mapping exercises many times. Along the way, I learned a few key lessons. First, the old “As-Is” process mapping approach was (and is) critical for software engineering projects. As-Is process mapping efforts have very limited application to an SAP implementation-- or for that m [...]

SAP ERP Project Failures Lessons Learned and Mini Case Studies 3

By |December 27th, 2010|

  In this final installment on these lessons learned and mini case studies, we will look at a few older SAP project failures. Even in these older SAP project failures, many of the same problems continue to repeat themselves. I would like to point out once again that in the major SAP project failures the software application itself was not at the root of the failure. The project failures I focused on are the ones where there is plenty of published literature to evaluate. Obviously that do [...]

SAP ERP Project Failure Lessons Learned and Mini Case Studies 1

By |December 13th, 2010|

  The following SAP project failures are the first three of what we will review over the next few weeks. The SAP project failures we will review are high-profile examples with significant lessons to be learned. In nearly every case where the SAP implementation actually occurred, within one to two years after the troubled go-live, the SAP software itself was reasonably well-received and the business generally satisfied.   ================= One interesting feature of the SAP project fai [...]

SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria & Factors 4

By |November 22nd, 2010|

I had intended to wrap this series up with this post, but because I haven’t done much review of the SAP System Change Control Process, this post will address that topic in detail. The last few SAP critical success factors will have to wait for the next post. Many of the steps, insight, techniques, and other suggestions I have made were gleaned from the SAP ASAP methodology and my experience with the various toolsets that SAP provides to their customers and vendors. This post will address this S [...]

SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria & Factors 3

By |November 15th, 2010|

The other day, I made a post to SAP’s Community Network on how to ensure customers get the best SAP business software integrator for their money. One of the comments to that post suggested that I was advocating for customers using only SAP as their system integrator. In my response, I stated that my goal is to encourage SAP customers to get educated so they actually achieve value and ROI from their SAP business software projects. My response sums up why I started this site and what the posts he [...]

SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria 1

By |November 1st, 2010|

Using the success criteria table laid out in SAP Success Factors for Vender Selection Responsibility Matrix 2 as a starting point for shared SAP project success, we will look at some strategies, tactics, techniques, and ideas for managing these shared responsibilities. By more aggressively managing these shared SAP critical success areas, we can set the correct tone and expectation for the SAP project. [FN1] This series will look at the things you should expect from your SAP system vendor, and [...]