SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria & Factors 5. This is the final post in the series on SAP project shared success criteria. Doing this entire topic justice has been more of a challenge than I had originally anticipated and at some point I will put it all together in a PDF e-book. This series leaves you with a lot to digest but over the years these items generally make up the foundations for a very successful project that is able to transform your business. This series has been challenging but interesting and I am glad it is complete.
In a few more weeks I will be coming back around to try to wrap up my series on SAP reimplementation for little more cost than a technical upgrade. That one turned out to be more challenging than I had originally expected. Until then, here is the final installment in this series on project success criteria. Legend A = Primary Responsibility for the success factor z = Shared but secondary responsibility for success 21. One of the major activities of an SAP project is the data analysis and conversion. 22. SAP System Integrator Shared Success Criteria Evaluation 4. I had intended to wrap this series up with this post but because I haven’t done much review of the SAP System Change Control Process this post will address that topic in detail. The last few SAP critical success factors will have to wait for the next post. Many of the steps, insight, techniques, and other suggestions I have made were gleaned from the SAP ASAP methodology and my experience with the various toolsets SAP provides to their customers and vendors.
This post will address this SAP or ERP critical success factor about the SAP System Change Control Process from my experiences on SAP projects since 1994. Legend A = Primary Responsibility for the success factor z = Shared but secondary responsibility for success 20. When it comes to SAP system changes the software is pretty mature. Some Steps and Considerations to Defining an SAP System Change Control Process Poor SAP Change Control Processes Can Create Major Problems SAP Landscape Configuration Assumptions / Decisions Popular Searches:
SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria & Factors 3. The other day I made a post to SAP’s Community Network on making sure customers get the best SAP business software integrator for their money. One of the comments to that post suggested I was advocating for customers using ONLY SAP as their system integrator. My response made it pretty clear that my goal is to encourage SAP customers to get educated so they actually achieve value and ROI from their SAP business software projects. My response sums up why I started this site and what the posts here are all about. Don’t waste money on consultants who cannot help you implement business software in ways that improve your business! And to that end we will look at the implementation of SAP or other large business software applications. Legend A = Primary Responsibility for the success factor z = Shared but secondary responsibility for success 16.
I place this SAP critical success factor (SAP CSF) clearly in the SAP system integrator column. SAP System Vendor “Trust but Verify“ 17. 18. 19. SAP System Vendor Project Success Criteria & Factors 2. This is a continuing post in an extensive series on achieving SAP project success. For the complete series on posts please see the Additional Resources list at the end of this post.
Last week’s post looked at some of the key factors around the type of consultants you need for success, your project approach, and the structure around the project. This week we will continue exploring details around the SAP critical success factors (SAP CSF’s) as they relate mostly to SAP project scope and SAP project change management activities. The basic idea behind the posts in this series is You write the checks for an SAP system integrator to deliver business value, make sure they do!
Legend A = Primary Responsibility for the success factor z = Shared but secondary responsibility for success 10. Probably one of the single most abused areas of shared responsibility is in Scope Development. Your best defense is to use SAP’s Solution Composer Tool SAP Scope Development Tips, Tricks, and Methods 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. SAP System Integrator Shared Project Success 1. SAP Project Success Using the success criteria table laid out in SAP Success Factors for Vender Selection Responsibility Matrix 2 as a starting point for shared SAP project success we will look at some strategies, tactics, techniques, and ideas for managing these shared responsibilities.
By more aggressively managing these shared SAP critical success areas we can set the correct tone and expectation for the SAP project. [FN1] This series will look at the types of things you should expect from your SAP system vendor, and how to ensure your SAP vendor is focusing on the critical issues for project success. Because of the importance of each of these SAP Critical Success Factors a set of posts covering the shared responsibilities will be evaluated. Both customers and vendors must aggressively address the areas of success where they have the primary responsibility. Do not allow the overall control of your project to be taken over by the consulting project manager Legend 5. 7. 8. A. B. A. I. C. SAP Success Factors for Vender Selection Responsibility Matrix. Based on a combination of the academic literature [FN1] and my personal experience I have put together the following SAP and ERP Critical Success Factor Responsibility Matrix.
The large “A” indicates a primary responsibility, a small “z” indicates a secondary responsibility, and a blank field indicates no direct responsibility. This is part of the continuing series on managing the SAP vendor relationship to help ensure SAP project success. This can be achieved by reviewing the SAP critical success factors, how responsibility is divided, and tactics for managing them. You want success, they want your money, MAKE SURE THEY EARN IT! The small “z” indicates that the party has a very strong influence over that factor but may not be in the position to ensure that it is successful. Legend A = Primary Responsibility for the success factor z = Shared but secondary responsibility for success SAP Vendor or System Integrator Responsibilities SAP Customer or Client Responsibilities Bhagwani, A. (2009).
SAP Project Success Factors with Responsibility Matrix. SAP ROI Success Factors Recently I was reviewing another of many papers I often read on various business and IT topics. A paper from a graduate student recently caught my attention and while it lacked some of the insight from personal experience, it made up for it in the substance of the material.
After a short look at the peer-reviewed academic literature, Anil Bhagwani, did a brief case-study on 10 failed SAP implementations and 10 successful SAP implementations. From these he continued to distill SAP critical success factors. For more vendor selection background, before or after reading this post, please refer to another study that was reviewed on the topic of vendor seleciton–, SAP Implementation Partner or Company Selection Criteria. The study author’s perspective and summary of the key success criteria from the Executive Summary, pg. 5, is reproduced here (altered and reformatted for easy reading): Why do so many SAP projects come in over budget and over time? Popular Searches: SAP Implementation Vendor Selection Criteria. Can the SAP implementation partner or company deliver business process engineering together WITH the new system?
Or, as with so many of them, do they just install systems and call that an implementation? Lately I’ve been focused on developing a solid and repeatable ERP software and vendor selection process. While reviewing the academic literature and reflecting on my time working with SAP (since 1994) I found an interesting study from Romania. The study addressed software vendor selection criteria and methods related to the limited information they had within the country. Successful implementation of an ERP system is the result of knowledgeable and dedicated people working together.
These key ERP implementation success criteria help you realize significant return on investment (ROI) from an ERP system. SAP or ERP Software Installation or Implementation? Key Implementation Success Factors that Apply to the Type of ERP or SAP Implementation Company or Partner Hurbean, L. (2009). The Top 5 ERP Success Factors by Project Stage from 22 Critical Success Factors. Top ERP Success Factors Recently I was reviewing academic material on ERP / SAP Project success factors.
One particular study stood out because it laid out 22 specific success factors by project stage. [FN1] Even though this study dates from 2001, the Critical Success Factors (or CSFs) still ring true today, and the conclusions are consistent with what I have seen on SAP projects since I started in 1994. While the sample size was somewhat limited (86 completed questionnaires) the data and information provided was useful for understanding some of the key or critical success factors.
The stages reviewed were: Based on the academic literature when the study was done, there were 22 key ERP Project Success factors that were defined (in order of the study’s response importance): This study went on to break out the top 5 reasons, by project stage, for project success. Top 5 Success Factors by ERP Project Stage: So Why do SAP or other ERP Projects Fail?
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