ASAP- Accelerated SAP

What is ASAP?
ASAP stands for Accelerated SAP. Its purpose is to help design SAP implementation in the most efficient manner possible. Its goal is to effectively optimize time, people, quality and other resources, using a proven methodology to implementation.
ASAP focuses on tools and training, wrapped up in a five-phase process oriented roadmap for guiding implementation.
The road map is composed of five well-known consecutive phases:

• Phase 1 Project Preparation
• Phase 2 Business Blueprint
• Phase 3 Realization
• Phase 4 Final Preparation
• Phase 5 Go-Live and support

In today's post we will discuss the first phase.

Phase 1 : Project Preparation

Phase 1 initiates with a retrieval of information and resources. It is an important time to assemble the necessary components for the implementation.Some important milestones that need to be accomplished for phase 1 include

• Obtaining senior-level management/stakeholder support
• identifying clear project objectives
• architecting an efficient decision-making process
• creating an environment suitable for change and re-engineering
• building a qualified and capable project team.

senior level management support:

one of the most important milestones with phase 1 of ASAP is the full agreement and cooperation of the important company decision-makers - key stakeholders and others.Their backing and support is crucial for a successful implementation.

Clear project objectives:

be concise in defining what your objectives and expectations are for this venture.vague or unclear notions of what you hope to obtain with SAP will handicap the implementation process.Also make sure that your expectations are reasonable considering your company's resources. It is essential to have clearly defined ideas, goals and project plans devised before moving forward.

an efficient decision making process:

one ostacle that often stalls implementation is a poorly constructed decision-making process. before embarking on this venture, individuals need to be clearlt identified. decide now who is responsible for different decisions along the way.From day one, the implementation decision makers and project leaders from each area must be aware of the onus placed on them to return good decisions quickly.

environment suitable for change and re engineering:

your team must be willing to accept that , along with new SAP software, things are going to change, the business will change, and information technology enabling the business will change as well. By implementing SAP, you will essentially redesign your current practices to model more efficient or predefined best business practises as espoused by SAP. Resistance to this change will impede the progress of your implementation.

Building a qualified project team:

probably the most important milestone early in assembling a project team for the implementation. If you are implementing the materials manegement and plant maintenance modules , you need to include people from both of these departments.The team should also represent mangement as well as non management or "functional" personnel.Sometimes management is less aware of the day-to-day functions of an orgnization, including how implementing SAP will tactically influence those functions.

Note: Explanations for remaining phases will be posted in coming posts.