Successfully Managing S/4HANA Projects: The Definitive Guide to the Next Digital Transformation (Management for Professionals)

Preface
	Technological Change
	How Can Your Company Compete in a Global, Digital World?
	SAP´s Biggest Bet and Business Transformation
	SAP: From SAP R/3 to Full-Service Cloud Provider in 30 Years
Acknowledgement
About This Book
	What Is the Definition of an SAP Project?
		The ``Typical´´ SAP Project Does Not Exist
		Complex Transformations
	Who Is This Book´s Target Audience?
		Core Target Groups
	How Is This Book Structured?
		The (Not So) Subtle Difference
		From the Ideal Project..
		..to Project Reality
		Soft Skills as a Success Factor
		Project Planning, Control and Quality Assurance
		From Theory to Practice in the Project
		Outside Assistance
		The Toolbox for Your SAP S/4HANA Project
		12 Commandments for SAP S/4HANA Projects
		Our Approach
		Taken from Project Life
	Even More Content: Materials for the Book
		Checklists and Templates for Download
Contents
About the Authors
1: Introduction
	1.1 SAP Solutions: From the Beginning to Today
		1.1.1 One SAP ERP System for All Business Areas
		1.1.2 Standard Software as an Alternative to In-House Developments
		1.1.3 Overcoming the Monolithic SAP ERP Architecture
		1.1.4 Acquisitions, Cloud Company, SAP HANA
		1.1.5 Cloud and SAP HANA
		1.1.6 SAP S/4HANA: The Largest Investment in the Company´s History
	1.2 Current SAP Software Solutions and Outlook
		1.2.1 The Experience Company Powered by the Intelligent Enterprise
		1.2.2 SAP S/4HANA: A Slow Seller?
		1.2.3 On-Premise or in the Cloud?
2: What Makes an SAP Project So Different?
	2.1 What Distinguishes IT Projects from Business Transformation Projects with SAP
		Note: Nothing Works Without Change Management
	2.2 Not All Projects Are the Same
		2.2.1 What Is a Project?
			Note: Templates for Download
		2.2.2 What Types of Project Management Are There?
			Note: Make Sure You Use the Right Project Organisation!
		2.2.3 Who Is Involved in the Project?
			Note: Coaching/Mentoring for Project Managers
	2.3 Digitalisation in Project Management
		2.3.1 How Can Project Management Benefit from Digital Transformation?
		2.3.2 From Classical Project Management to Agile Processes (Methods)
		2.3.3 Hybrid Project Management
	2.4 Why Software from SAP?
		2.4.1 Analysis of the Initial Situation
		2.4.2 Example for Selecting an ERP Software
		2.4.3 Review of the Existing System Landscape
		2.4.4 The Assessment: Conducting an Analysis of the As-Is Situation
		2.4.5 Software Selection Criteria
			Note: High Expectations
			Tip: Exchange of Experience with Like-Minded People
		2.4.6 Looking Back: Experiences with the SAP System and Potential for Improvement
			Tip: Careful Preparation Is Crucial for Important Decision-Making Meetings
	2.5 The Road to SAP S/4HANA
		2.5.1 Your Company Has Been Using SAP for Years
		2.5.2 Your Company Is About to Introduce SAP for the First Time
		2.5.3 SAP S/4HANA Usage Models
			Note: Special Maintenance Clauses in Some Subscription Models
		2.5.4 What Is the Right Approach for Moving to SAP S/4HANA: Greenfield Versus Brownfield Versus Selective Data Transition
		2.5.5 Data Migration Aspects of the Greenfield-Approach
		2.5.6 Economic Feasibility Considerations/Business Case
	2.6 Conclusion
3: The SAP S/4HANA Project: How It Should Be
	Tip: Book Recommendation
	3.1 Project Management Standards, Methodology and Tools: An Overview
		Tip: Professional Qualifications
		3.1.1 Selection of the External Project Management
		3.1.2 The Importance of Project Management Methodology
	3.2 The Project Management Basics: PMI Project Management Methodology
	3.3 Everything Perfectly Prepared: The Ideal Conditions
		Note: Back to Start: Strategy Changes
	3.4 ASAP: The Mother of All SAP Methods
		3.4.1 Phase 1: Planning and Preparation
		3.4.2 Phase 2: Business Blueprint
		3.4.3 Phase 3: Realisation
		3.4.4 Phase 4: Production Preparation
		3.4.5 Phase 5: Go-Live and Support
		3.4.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of ASAP
	3.5 SAP Launch: The Implementation Methodology for SAP Cloud Products
	3.6 SAP Activate: The Better ASAP
		3.6.1 Phase 1: Discover
		3.6.2 Phase 2: Prepare
		3.6.3 Phase 3: Explore
		3.6.4 Phase 4: Realise
		3.6.5 Phase 5: Deploy
			Note: System Sizing
			Note: Cut-Over Plan
		3.6.6 Phase 6: Run
			Note: Regular Updates of the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Solutions
	3.7 Support Tools Provided with SAP Activate
		3.7.1 Roadmap Viewer
		3.7.2 SAP Best Practices Explorer
			Note: Integration of SAP Solution Manager 7.2 with SAP Best Practices
		3.7.3 SAP Model Company
4: The SAP S/4HANA Project: How It Is
	4.1 Phase 1: Discover (Or Explore Possibilities!)
	4.2 Phase 2: Prepare (Project Preparation)
		4.2.1 Official Project Start
		4.2.2 Simplification Through Solution Modules
		4.2.3 Planning the Project
		4.2.4 Project Organisation and Project Resources
		4.2.5 Provisioning the Infrastructure
		4.2.6 Communication Within the Company
	4.3 Phase 3: Explore (Or Map Business Processes!)
		4.3.1 Business Process Requirements
		4.3.2 System Architecture
		4.3.3 Project Standards and Procedures
	4.4 Phase 4: Realise (Or The Implementation)
		4.4.1 Project Management and Control
		4.4.2 Configuration of the Systems
		4.4.3 Testing
		4.4.4 Data Migration
		4.4.5 Change Management
	4.5 Phase 5: Deploy (Or Preparation for Going Live)
		4.5.1 User Training
		4.5.2 Going Live
	4.6 Phase 6: Run (Or Go-Live and Support)
	4.7 The Top Flops in the SAP S/4HANA Project
		4.7.1 Pitfalls Throughout the Project
		4.7.2 Phase 1: Discover
		4.7.3 Phase 2: Prepare
		4.7.4 Phase 3: Explore
		4.7.5 Phase 4: Realise
		4.7.6 Phase 5: Deploy
		4.7.7 Phase 6: Run
5: The Underestimated Success Factor: People
	5.1 Who Belongs to the Project Team?
		Tip: Know the Stakeholders in Your Project!
	5.2 The Importance of Project Management Leads
		Note: Project Management as the Supporting Pillar of the Project?
		Tip: Solving Conflicts Constructively
		Note: The Project Management Office (PMO)
		Note: The Importance of Soft Skills
		Note: Pitfall Professional Competence
	5.3 Qualification, Personal Suitability and Availability of Project Members
		5.3.1 Skill Requirements in Digital Project Management
		5.3.2 How to Select the Right Employees
		5.3.3 To Ensure the Availability of Resources
			Tip: Relieve Daily Business
	5.4 Key Factors for Good Teamwork
		5.4.1 Mutual Trust
		5.4.2 A Common Understanding of the Mission
		5.4.3 Individual Engagement and Self-Commitment to the Team Goals
		5.4.4 Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibilities
		5.4.5 Rules for Working in a Team
			Note: Dosing Rules Correctly
		5.4.6 Clear Decision-Making
		5.4.7 Effective Group Processes
			Note: Trust Must Grow
		5.4.8 Guidelines for High-Performance Teams
			Tip: 9 Rules for Teamwork
	5.5 Humanity, Feasibility and Motivation
		Note: Why Motivation Pays Off
		5.5.1 Detect Overload and Excessive Stress
		5.5.2 Employees Need Motivation
			Note: Effects of Lack of Motivation
			Tip: 5 Tips for More Motivation
		5.5.3 Help to Avoid Stress
			Note: Definition of Burnout
			Note: Keep an Eye on Work-Life Balance
			Note: Opportunities and Risks of International Project Teams
			Tip: Healthy Nerve Food
	5.6 Communication as a Success Factor
		Tip: The 24 Actions of Transformation
		5.6.1 Communication Culture
		5.6.2 Communication Structure and Corporate Culture
	5.7 International Project Staffing: A Special Challenge
		5.7.1 Good Advice Is Half the Battle
		5.7.2 The Journey Has Just Begun: After Arrival
			Tip: 10 Success Factors for International Teams
	5.8 Impact of Digitalisation on Project Management
		5.8.1 What Is Important
		5.8.2 Digitalisation of Customer Relations
		5.8.3 Building Digital Talent
		5.8.4 Use of Data and Advanced Technologies
		5.8.5 Digitalisation of Operations and Automation of Processes
6: Project Planning, Control and Quality Assurance
	6.1 Support Whenever You Need It: The Project Management Office
	6.2 Project Planning
		6.2.1 The Pillars of Project Planning
		6.2.2 Planning Factors: Goals, Deadlines and Cost
		6.2.3 How Do You Plan a Project?
			Note: Making It Tangible: The Prototype
		6.2.4 How Expensive, How Long, and How Much? The Effort Estimate
			Tip: 7 Tips for Project Planning
	6.3 Project Control
		6.3.1 Guidelines for a Successful Project Control
			Note: What Is Often Missed in Real Life?
			Note: Soft Skills as a Success Factor for Project Control
			Tip: 5 Steps to Create a RACI Matrix
			Tip: Efficient Project Status Meetings
			Note: Meetings with the Steering Committee/Stakeholders
		6.3.2 Carry Out Control Processes
			Note: The 7 Most Common Risks in a Project
			Special Factors Influencing a Project
				Tip: 10 Tips for Successful Project Control
	6.4 Quality Assurance
		Note: Quality Assurance Systems: Knight in Shining Armour?
		6.4.1 What Are the Practical Problems?
			Note: Quality Assurance Is an Obligation
		6.4.2 What Does Quality Assurance in Project Work Mean?
		6.4.3 Preparation and Execution of Reviews
			Tip: Who Should Do the Reviews?
			Tip: Examples of Questions in Periodic Reviews
		6.4.4 Treatment of the Review Results
			Note: Quality Assurance at a Glance
	6.5 Planning, Control and Quality Assurance in SAP S/4HANA Projects
		6.5.1 What´s New in the IT Project World Today?
		6.5.2 Project Management in SAP S/4HANA Projects
		6.5.3 Special Features of SAP S/4HANA Projects
		6.5.4 Tasks in the Different Project Phases (Checklists)
7: Examples from Real-Life SAP S/4HANA Projects
	7.1 Preparation of an SAP S/4HANA Implementation Project
		7.1.1 Initial Situation
			Note: Solutions in the Selection
		7.1.2 Reasons for the Project
		7.1.3 Project Goals
		7.1.4 Approach
		7.1.5 Summary
	7.2 Implementation of SAP S/4HANA at ELKB in Bavaria
		7.2.1 Initial Situation
			Note: Regional Church Offices and Church Districts
		7.2.2 Reasons for the SAP S/4HANA Project
		7.2.3 Project Goals
		7.2.4 Approach
		7.2.5 Results
		7.2.6 Summary and Lessons Learned
	7.3 ``Be Liquid´´: BITZER´s Agile Way to SAP S/4HANA
		7.3.1 Development of the System Landscape
		7.3.2 The 5-Year Plan: SAP S/4HANA
		7.3.3 Not Your Run-of-the-Mill SAP S/4HANA Implementation Project
	7.4 Project to Replace Global Procurement Systems (Automotive Industry)
		7.4.1 Initial Situation
		7.4.2 Reasons for the Project
		7.4.3 Project Goals
		7.4.4 Approach
		7.4.5 Results
	7.5 Lessons Learned from Our SAP ECC Projects
		7.5.1 Global SAP Implementation from the Perspective of a Pilot Country
		7.5.2 Lessons Learned: The Local Project Preparation
		7.5.3 Lessons Learned: Local Business Blueprint
		7.5.4 Lessons Learned: The Realisation Phase
		7.5.5 Lessons Learned: Final Phase of Preparation/Go-Live and Support
		7.5.6 What Happened After the Pilot Installation: The Rollout Concept
			Note: Advantages of the Rollout Method
8: Consultants: Boon or Bane? Benefit or Burden?
	8.1 Why Bring in External Support?
		Note: Have Laptop: Will Travel
		Note: Project Information Sources
	8.2 Finding the Right Ones
		Note: SAP Consulting and Support
	8.3 Fixed-Price Service Contract or Time and Material?
		Note: Common Pitfalls when Transferring Overall Responsibility
	8.4 Role Distribution Between Client and Consultant
	8.5 The Internal External
		Note: Five Pitfalls when Using Internal Consultants
		Note: Jobs for Consultants
	8.6 Project Goals
		Note: Everyone Pulls Together
	8.7 Projects with Offshore or Nearshore Teams
		Note: Offshore and Nearshore
		Note: These Germans Are Crazy?
		Note: Project Staffing
		Note: Documentation: Even More Important Than Before
9: Project Support Tools
	9.1 Project Management Tools
		Note: Why Only Microsoft Products?
		Note: Microsoft 365
		9.1.1 Microsoft Project
			Note: Project Management with Solution Manager
		9.1.2 Microsoft Word
			Tip: Document Management
		9.1.3 Microsoft Excel
		9.1.4 Microsoft Outlook/Exchange/Outlook 365
			10 Tips for E-Mail Communication
		9.1.5 Shared Network Drive
			Tips for Document Management
			Note: Microsoft Office and SAP Solution Manager
		9.1.6 SAP Solution Manager
			Note: IT Infrastructure Library
			Note: A Project Within a Project
			Note: Further Information About SAP Solution Manager
	9.2 Tools for Business Process Management
		Note: SAP and BPM Tools-It´s Complicated
		Note: Further Information on BPM
	9.3 Tools for Testing
		9.3.1 SAP Solution Manager
		9.3.2 CATT and eCATT
		9.3.3 Other Tools
			Note: Further Information on Testing
	9.4 Tools for Operational Support and Software Logistics
		9.4.1 Transportation/Software Logistic
			Note: Further Information on Transporting
		9.4.2 Systems Operations
			Note: Additional Information on System Operation
		9.4.3 Master Data Management
			Note: Additional Information on Data Management
	9.5 Minimised Downtime Services
	9.6 SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit
		Note: Status App
		Note: Additional Information
	9.7 SAP Data Services
		Note: SAP Rapid Data Management
		Note: Further Reading
10: 12 Commandments for a Successful SAP Project
Glossary
Bibliography
Index