service innovation Archives - Innovate. Integrate. Transform. Run.

An SAP ABAP Innovation Revolution Beyond HANA
An SAP ABAP Innovation Revolution Beyond HANA

An SAP ABAP Innovation Revolution Beyond HANA

By Bill Wood|December 12th, 2011|

Some time back, I wrote about Opportunities for SAP Innovation. At the time, I wasn’t really expecting a lot, and I likely did not have much influence. However, I do find it coincidental that many of the suggestions I offered have been adopted. Some of them, such as the switched framework to improve order management processing, are included in ECC 6.0 EhP4. One issue that I have been contemplating for a long time is how to dramatically improve ABAP development and overall application enhancemen [...]

Toward an SAP Center of Excellence or SAP Competency Center – PART 3
Toward an SAP Center of Excellence or SAP Competency Center – PART 3

Toward an SAP Center of Excellence or SAP Competency Center – PART 3

By Bill Wood|July 28th, 2010|

Part 3 of 3 Stages and Components of the SAP Center of Excellence To wrap up this series, we will take a brief look at the post go-live or production support environment. One academic study I reviewed on ERP project success factors defined the three production stages of Acceptance, Routinization, and Infusion (see The Top 5 ERP Success Factors by Project Stage from 22 Critical Success Factors). These three terms fit the requirements for SAP production system stages as you move toward an SAP Cen [...]

Process Execution of Business and IT Innovation
Process Execution of Business and IT Innovation

Process Execution of Business and IT Innovation

By Bill Wood|May 3rd, 2010|

The idea of innovation in business or IT is generally an aspiration to most. Leaders and managers occasionally mention the need to innovate, but when they stop to consider what that means, many of them abandon it as an impossible dream. They wait for some strange spark, some odd occurrence to somehow spark the flame of new beginnings. Execution of the Innovation Process Inspiration for innovation or creativity can come from anywhere. Frequently, the innovation problem isn't a lack of good ideas [...]

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 3 of 3
Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 3 of 3

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 3 of 3

By Bill Wood|April 5th, 2010|

In the first two parts of this series, we looked at the current innovation paradigm. That paradigm consists mostly of two primary approaches: namely incremental innovation that looks more like continuous improvement, and a free-for-all that is more like chaos. We also looked at a third approach to innovation: leveraging existing marketing infrastructure to produce a future state narrative. That narrative acts as a future state blueprint for product or service development to move toward. Innovat [...]

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 2 of 3
Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 2 of 3

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 2 of 3

By Bill Wood|March 29th, 2010|

Previously, we looked at the three primary types of innovation most often practiced today. I discussed two polar opposites, which I call the Stoic approach and the Maelstrom approach. The Stoic is more like continuous improvement, whereas the Maelstrom is more like blue-sky, directionless brainstorming. The third method is somewhere in between and strives for the ideal future state. That third method relies heavily on an innovation narrative. Innovation at the Point of Customer Frustration Prev [...]

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 1 of 3
Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 1 of 3

Striving for a Customer Focused Approach to Innovation 1 of 3

By Bill Wood|March 26th, 2010|

If your company does any kind of innovation, how would you describe it? Stoic – slow, plodding, methodical, and generally consisting of small incremental improvements (minimalist). Stretch – evaluating current as well as future needs and wants of the customer with some structured framework for achieving a future state (striving). Maelstrom – creative “free-for-all,” sky’s the limit, and a “no holds barred” barrage of brainstorming and chaos (directionless). The Common Approach to Innovation, Ge [...]