Where Does Agile Fit in SAP Projects?

By |November 12th, 2012|

After offering insight based on my personal experiences around "Agile Project Methods for SAP ERP Projects?" I wanted to highlight a few areas where Agile does work: Design sessions Development efforts (i.e. coding) Data conversions Once you begin to move beyond these areas, you quickly encounter dependent workstreams that need much more coordination. Those additional dependencies make it difficult to apply Agile methods. While Agile tends to emphasize the one-week to one-month "sprint," I woul [...]

More SAP Project Leadership Tips for Managing Conflict

By |November 28th, 2011|

If you are determined to gain and then maintain SAP project momentum, you will see stress. Part of the requirement for momentum includes asking people to reach for stretch goals that can challenge (and deepen) their capabilities, but also cause tension and even conflict. One author says conflict is "a situation of competition in which the parties are aware of the incompatibility of potential future positions and in which each party wishes to occupy a position which is incompatible with the wish [...]

5 Leadership Tips for Successful SAP Project Management

By |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 Project Manager – SAP Program Manager, Lessons from the Trenches

By |July 25th, 2011|

This is a continuation of the previous post that addressed early requirements for good SAP project management (see Effective Results from SAP Project Managers – SAP Program Managers). SAP Project Management Responsibility Above all else, a manager’s primary responsibility is to ensure the success of those they are responsible for managing. Overall success of any initiative is directly tied to the success of those responsible for delivery of that initiative. This is especially true in fast-paced [...]

Effective Results from SAP Project Managers – SAP Program Managers

By |July 18th, 2011|

In all the years I have been involved with SAP, I have often puzzled about what creates a quality project rather than some of the horrors they call SAP projects. I have seen a few go really well, a few not so much, but most were mediocre. I have often asked myself “Why? What makes the difference between a good project and one that is nothing short of a mess?" One key item that stands out is project management. Even with the most talented and dedicated resources, bad project management can ruin [...]