Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Changed functional development with regard to SAP solutions can be broadly categorized as
follows:
◾
Configuration:
: This involves setting up the SAP solution by adding, selecting, and configur-
ing a certain set of available parameters for the business processes to be executed in SAP
without making any programming updates.
◾
Customization
: This involves making programming changes to the standard software solu-
tion provided by SAP so that the standard business processes will not behave in a manner
different from what is expected, primarily to meet the customer requirements.
During the Business Blueprint phase of the SAP Implementation methodology, business processes
are converted into a SAP-specific functional plan—a blueprint. One of the first steps in this process
is to understand the current business processes existing within an enterprise. The functional spe-
cialist spends the next few days diving deeply into each functional area, understanding all the cur-
rent business processes, and describing any additional processes identified as part of the visioning
exercise described in the previous section. Existing business process documentation is analyzed and
discussed with the project team members. Business process flowcharts are developed as a means to
capture the information shared by the business process owners and subject matter experts (SMEs).
Each process flow diagram contains its subprocesses and decision trees depicted together in a visual
format where each row of activity is described as a swim lane. The flowchart depicts not only the
business process in detail but also links to other functional areas, such as Inventory Management,
MRP, and Finance. Additionally, it shows the processes that will be executed in SAP ERP, those that
are carried out manually, and those being executed in a non-SAP system. Effectively, the flowchart
depicts the business process mapping to the SAP ERP solution and clearly identifies any gaps that
might exist within the business process.
The corresponding Business Blueprint (BBP) consists of the following:
◾
Policies and procedures
◾
Instructions
◾
Exclusions, if any
◾
Decisions
◾
Change management items
◾
Business process description including business process flow diagrams
◾
Business process mapping to the SAP ERP solution
◾
Local business process requirements (if different from above for legal reasons)
◾
Gap analysis
◾
RICEFS (Reports, Interfaces, Conversions, Enhancements, Forms, and SAPscripts)
◾
Authorization
◾
Data volume per site
◾
Archiving details
◾
BBP acceptance of results—Sign-off by leads
Gaps are processes or functionality that does not exist within the standard SAP solution. These gaps
are categorized as either critical or
nice to have
. A gap can be mitigated with a work-around within
the SAP solution or through the process of customization in which the actual SAP programs are
changed to accommodate these gaps in business processes or functionality. A cost-benefit analy-
sis is carried out to conclude whether this gap can be mitigated with a work-around or through
