The SAP Project

Gerald Sullivan has a 25-year background in implementations. He has operated from the systems integrator side, but most of his experience has come from managing very large-scale SAP projects for implementing companies. Industries involved include life sciences, consumer-packaged goods, electronics, and financial services. His past experience as a professor in graduate schools of management and as a quality improvement executive contribute to a unique perspective and broad contextual knowledge of the challenges of implementation. He has a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Dr. Sullivan is the president of SAP Global Consultants, a consultancy offering project management advisory services to implementing companies. He can be reached at jerry@sapglobalconsultants.com.

Acknowledgments
Surviving in SAP Projects
Why Are SAP Implementations So Difficult?
Levels of Preparation Required
What this Book Will Do for You
Factors Critical to Success
How the Book Will Be Organized
How an SAP Implementation Changes Business
Modifying Major Business Processes
Building New Skills in the Project Team
Transforming SAP into a Company Asset
The ASAP Methodology
ASAP Components
Phase One: Project Preparation
Phase Two: Business Blueprint
Phase Three: Realization
Phase Four: Final Preparation
Phase Five: Go-Live and Support
Quality Gates
Types of SAP Projects
Full-Scale Implementation Projects
Upgrade Projects
Pre-Built Package Projects
Start-Up Logistics
Project Preparation Timeline
Project Meeting Schedules
Headcount Forecasting and Ramp-Up Planning
Initial Planning for Integrator Selection
Project Procurement
Space Planning for Project Activities
Preliminary Project Budgeting
Systems Integrator Selection and Contracting
Integrator Selection
Integrator Contracting
Integrator Onboarding
SAP's Role in the Project
Consultant Resources
Custom Development
Software Fixes
Training
Technical Services
Value Management
Project Planning
Defining the Project Schedule
Setting Top-Level Requirements
Achieving Cost Savings
Knowledge Management
Documentation
Knowledge Management Strategy
Project Organization
High-Level Project Organization
Program Management
Functional Workstream Leads
Horizontal Workstreams
Project Governance
Project Charter
Oversight and Guidance
Risk Management
Team Rewards and Recognition
Building the Right Project Team
Team Recruitment and Selection
Onboarding the Project Team
Delivering Project Results
Roll-Off and Reintegration
Business Blueprinting
Blueprinting Sessions
Design Documentation
Localization
Closing the Business Blueprinting Phase
Realization
Transition to Realization
Organizing for Realization
Project Management
Configuration and Custom Objects Build
Configuration and Custom Development
Security Design
Systems Testing
Structure of Systems Testing
Systems Testing Processes
Using Testing Systems
Systems Test Entrance and Exit Criteria
Data, Reports, EDI, and Security and Internal
Data
Report
Electronic Data Interchange
Security and Internal Controls
Building System Environments
The SAP Landscape
Environment and Client Structure
Infrastructure Build and Test
Performance and Failover Testing
Change Management
Business Transformation
Change Impacts
Stakeholder Management
Organizational Design
Project Communication
Continuous User Training
Course Development
Trainer Preparation
Training Delivery Logistics
Post-Go-Live Processes
Cutover Planning
Cutover Processes
Go-Live Authorization
Go-Live and Hypercare
Final Go-Live Processes
Hypercare
Sustainment
The SAP Center of Excellence
Sustainment Governance
Continuing Company Projects
The Author
Index