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solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics AX for their customers. Dynamics AX is a
business management solution that combines ERP functionality and additional
domain specific modules [4]. The consultants at both companies apply Microsoft's
Sure Step methodology [5], which provides guidance and support for gathering cus-
tomers' requirements and identifying which requirements can be satisfied using stan-
dard ERP system functionality (Fit-Gap Analysis). However, the increasing number
of services both provided by Dynamics AX [6] and developed by partner companies
raises challenges for the application of Sure Step. The consultants find it increasingly
difficult to keep track of the available services. This limits their ability to identify
adequate services and negatively affects later system design and development.
In our current research, we are addressing the challenges resulting from the intro-
duction of software services in the ERP domain. The research focuses on system
design activities within ERP projects based on Sure Step. We explore the ways con-
sultants can be supported in handling the increasing number of services within ERP
systems. This paper presents the Semantic Service Search & Composition (S
3
C) ap-
proach, a tool-based solution supporting consultants in identifying requirements and
relevant services to inform the Fit-Gap Analysis within ERP projects. We further
discuss the experience gained from two studies where the S
3
C Solution Explorer was
applied by ERP consultants at two different companies.
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 presents the Sure
Step analysis phase and highlights the limitations of this approach and the challenges
raised by service-centric system development. Section 3 presents the research goal
and research objectives in more detail. In that section we then present the needs of
ERP consultants. We further discuss the SeCSE Requirements Process which in-
formed our solution. Section 3 then presents the S
3
C approach which adapts Sure Step
towards service-centric development. In the last part of Section 3 we present novel
tools which were developed to support the S
3
C approach as well as integrated service
discovery components from SeCSE. In Section 4 we present and discuss the results of
the initial evaluation of the S
3
C Solution Explorer. Section 5 presents lessons learned
and Section 6 concludes and presents further work.
2 Requirements Elicitation Based on Sure Step and Its Limitations
Sure Step defines roles such as that of the application consultant who is responsible
for gathering and specifying requirements and for conducting a Fit-Gap Analysis.
Figure 1 gives a detailed overview of Sure Step which divides an ERP installation
project into six phases: Diagnostic, Analysis, Design, Development, Deployment and
Operation. Each phase consists of mandatory and optional activities. In addition, there
exist Cross Phase Processes that span across multiple phases. There are four activities
relevant to this research which focuses on requirements elicitation and system design.
These activities are usually conducted in sequential order. The following paragraphs
give a more detailed description:
