Strategy Archives - Page 4 of 15 - Innovate. Integrate. Transform. Run.

Sustained Business Value from SAP Business Software
Sustained Business Value from SAP Business Software

Sustained Business Value from SAP Business Software

By Bill Wood|February 20th, 2012|

From time to time, I review academic literature about the application of technology and offer my SAP experience-based perspective. A while back, I was reviewing one of these studies, which was about enterprise software. In this study, the authors made a key clarification. They recognized two types of implementations: problem based (i.e. address your “pain points”) or innovation based. Their suggestion was that some elements of both would be present on any large-scale IT project, but each type o [...]

5 Leadership Tips for Successful SAP Project Management
5 Leadership Tips for Successful SAP Project Management

5 Leadership Tips for Successful SAP Project Management

By Bill Wood|November 14th, 2011|

All too often, I see SAP Project Management done improperly. As I have often said, I do not generally fault customers or clients who hire outside help for SAP project management. If they believed they had the answers, they wouldn't bother with contractors for guidance. Too often, I see SAP project management treated as project administration without much leadership. Just about anyone can be a checklist administrator. What is lacking from many SAP projects is the project management leadership to [...]

SAP Program Management Requires a Type of CMMI
SAP Program Management Requires a Type of CMMI

SAP Program Management Requires a Type of CMMI

By Bill Wood|November 7th, 2011|

Many are unaware that SAP provides a broad set of tools and resources for Program Management and the Capability Maturity Model (or CMM). Few are familiar with SAP’s broad set of supports for this purpose, such as the ASAP Methodology Phase 6 “Run” enhancement. This enhancement is loaded with key information that aligns with Program Management responsibilities and CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) [FN1]. So, what is CMM (or CMMI as it is more properly referred to)? “CMMI (Capability M [...]

ERP II & ERP III – SAP Business IT Revolution
ERP II & ERP III – SAP Business IT Revolution

ERP II & ERP III – SAP Business IT Revolution

By Bill Wood|October 31st, 2011|

The day after I released my last post (SAP IT Governance – Achieve Business IT Engagement), techrepublic.com published a review of the CIO future direction. While I do not agree with all of the Gartner conclusions they published, I certainly agree with the “new CIO manifesto” (TechRepublic: Get drastic: 15 IT best practices to kill). Reading through the comments left on the TechRepublic post was enlightening. However, most of the comments focused on the details of one or two points of disagreem [...]

SAP Offshore Development Project Experience
SAP Offshore Development Project Experience

SAP Offshore Development Project Experience

By Bill Wood|September 26th, 2011|

There is a time and a place for everything-- even SAP project offshore activities. Unfortunately, in the quest to save money, the wrong approach can sound good on paper but cost you far more than the sales pitches would lead you to believe. The SAP offshore sales pitch uses enticing rates, such as receiving an offshore developer for about 15-20% the rate of an onshore resource (about 1/5 to 1/7 the price). The initial reaction to all of the sales pitches is “Wow, that will save us a bundle!” Ho [...]

SAP IT Convergence Beyond Business to IT Alignment
SAP IT Convergence Beyond Business to IT Alignment

SAP IT Convergence Beyond Business to IT Alignment

By Bill Wood|September 6th, 2011|

In the new global business age, organizations need to leverage technology organization expertise for business benefit more than ever. Too often, technology organizations focus on technology for the sake of technology, rather than for how it might improve products and services or how it might create more customer focus. In today’s competitive global economy, filled with international economic instability, no part of the enterprise can afford to move very far from what pays the bills. If your SAP [...]