Database Reference
In-Depth Information
12.9.1 Project Strategy
As has been mentioned in Chapter 1, Section 1.2.1.4 “Information as the New Resource,” imple-
menting SAP will benefit the company only when it starts using the information made available
by a productive SAP system as a resource. For this, it is essential that all the base modules are
implemented and go into production. Otherwise, the system will function merely as a system for
recording and reporting on the past performance.
12.9.2 Project Planning and Monitoring
The issues of reporting the progress of the project can lead to contention among project mem-
bers. Considering that SAP implementation projects are driven by the business managers, even
decisions like whether to employ packaged software for the SAP project can become a major
political issue.
12.9.3 Project Resource Requirements
For a successful SAP implementation, especially for the big-bang approach recommended for the
millennium enterprise, resources in adequate measures and at the right time are essential. These
would be in terms of the following:
◾
The allocation and disbursement of budget finances at appropriate stages.
◾
The acquisition and on-schedule installation of the server and PC hardware, the networking
and communications hardware, the communications monitoring and network management
software, O/S and office automation software at the servers and nodes, and, finally, the SAP
software.
◾
Staffing by recruitment and subcontracting or deputation from the various departments
for SAP functional teams, technical teams, resource administration, training and logistics
teams, super users, and, lastly, the end users for their orientation training and refresher
training just before the go-live phase.
◾
Data from the legacy system or other systems that are operational within the company or its
key business partners. This loading of data could be a one-time exercise before the cutover
to the productive SAP system or on a regular basis at predetermined periods during the
business cycle every month. The loading process could itself be in the batch mode or be a
real-time interface that transfers data and updates between SAP and other systems on an
ongoing basis.
12.9.4 Project Training Requirements
SAP implementation projects engender large training requirements. Traditional implementations,
however, are closely administered by a centralized computer facility and are confined to smaller
numbers of end users. Moreover, these end users are also not actually involved with the operations
of the business; on the contrary, often, they are usually personnel only responsible for transcribing
transactions and other information into the system.
ERP, in the true sense of the word, brings computerization to the desktops of the operational
people. Thus, the training requirements for a SAP project implementation would be huge and may
easily involve 10%-20% of the manpower of a company.
