Database Reference
In-Depth Information
We discuss ASAP methodology in detail in Chapter 13 of Section IV “Implementation Stage” of
this topic.
6.9 Project Management
The purpose of project management is to help define the tasks that are necessary to complete a
project, control the progress of the activities, and account for the resources expended through the
project.
6.9.1 Project Organization
Project organization consists of constitution of the various teams that are assigned to different
tasks of the project. It entails nominating the various members of all teams, appointing team
leaders, and reporting structures for compiling the progress reports of each team, which are con-
solidated progressively into higher-level progress reports. Usually, the team will consist of the tech-
nical team, the ABAP programming team, and many teams corresponding to major components
within SAP CRM. Each of these later will contain subteams for performing analysis and design,
as well as undertaking documentation and testing of the various components.
6.9.2 Project Control
It is essential that the work of all teams and groups of teams in different areas be controlled
for gauging the progress, or lack of it, in the corresponding tasks. For this, the effort and time
expended will have to be recorded and monitored on a daily basis. This would be helpful in
detecting delays and slippage, reconstituting the teams, and reinforcing any team with additional
resources wherever necessary:
1.
Time Recording
: Time recording involves recording the time expended under various cat-
egories of activities by every member of the team. This is essential not only for the external
consultants but also for company members. An analysis of the time expended in various
activities could be helpful in identifying the effort and cost expended in identifying gaps,
resolving gap issues, talking with end users, configuration, documentation, functional and
technical testing, debugging functional and technical errors, and so forth.
2.
Meetings
: Project meetings could be for all project-related issues, such as
a. Scope of the project
b. Project strategy
c. Constitution of teams
d. Project schedule and milestones
e. Requirements and business processes
f. Gap issues and their Resolution
g. Issues that have not been resolved
h. Decisions on standardizing processes
i. Preparation of test plans and data
j. Test reports
k. Debugging and candidate solutions
l. Documentation and updates
