Database Reference
In-Depth Information
master data. Programs or the functionality for the creation and maintenance of master data and
transaction data is also available through the respective modules.
7.3.3.6 Implementation of SAP Standard Functionality
As far as possible, avoid the bugbear of customization by altering and additional programming in
ABAP. Additional programming should be evaluated and adopted only as a last resort. SAP keeps
upgrading its suite of products and if custom software is built for a particular version, it will have
to be upgraded every time SAP releases new upgrades. Like any other product, SAP goes through
oscillating cycles between major functional upgrades followed by technical upgrades and vice
versa. The best solution is to
◾
Use SAP standard functionality
◾
Accommodate the variation of the business process by using SAP's flexibility for configuring
variant processes
◾
Adopt a work-around that indirectly takes care of the required functionality, for example, in
the absence of the HR module, some account-interfacing HR functions can be managed by
treating employees as customers
◾
Use third-party products that are properly certified and qualified by SAP
7.3.3.7 Selecting the Most Critical Processes
A company should evaluate and select the processes that are critical to its business and focus on
implementing them effectively to add maximum value for optimal effort:
1.
Implementing Best-of-Business Processes
: SAP has a library of 800 of the best-of-business
processes derived from companies throughout the world. The success of SAP in providing
comprehensive functionality within a shorter time frame compared with traditional imple-
mentations is based on the strategy of leveraging the commonality that is found in similar
processes prevalent in companies within an industry.
Reusability has been a powerful concept in enhancing productivity and the quality of
delivered software in the areas of traditional software development. SAP, in particular, extends
this concept of reusability to the design of mission-critical systems. It packages such universal
commonalities of functionality for rapid and successful implementations.
Before adding reusability to the library of the best-of-business processes, however, the
company should document, rationalize, and standardize the company's select group of pro-
cesses that are to be implemented using SAP:
a.
Documentation of Processes
: Documenting the various business processes permits the
true comprehension of the characteristic structure and dynamics of the business envi-
ronment within a company. This involves recording various details on the business
processes like name; purpose; responsible function; process description, including
inputs and outputs; and subprocesses. This also includes interfaces with other func-
tions and systems, exceptional conditions, areas for improvement, and impact analysis
of suggested scenarios.
b.
Rationalization of Processes
: Many of the systems and procedures adopted by traditional
systems were influenced by the architecture of the systems themselves. For instance,
these earlier systems were designed to be used by IT-literate personnel managed and
