Boon or Bane: SAP Survival Kit – Overview and Getting Started
Contrary to popular belief, long-term factual business improvement will not come at first glance. This is the vital issue to question without any doubt. Don’t mix it up with sarcastic though, though in fact there are undeniable similarities to be found once you delve into it. Regardless, you should now be fully aware of the fact that the following pages intentionally contain many humorous overtones tied to the real world of SAP with its diverse business environment.
However, you should know that my writing style is closely related to Scott Adams’ Dilbert Management theories. [see The Dilbert Principle, 1996]. Summing up this article, I am very happy and glad to have written such a work of art, which is supposed to be read by everyone who was or is involved in similar projects like this. After due deliberation, I avoided explicitly mentioning any names, so as not to upset or embarrass anyone. However, if you are offended to a certain extent, I would like to assure you that it was definitely not intentional.
Start the process! The idea has already been born, the project has its title, the drafting and naming conventions have been established, the conceptual preparation work has been completed so far.
There is no doubt that, at the beginning of such a tremendous project, many issues must be considered beforehand, unless the whole idea is supposed to get out of hand.
Can we trust a realistic business plan? Here’s the spice of life: Have you already encountered the so-called 6 planning phases?
Here we go with the most vital aspects to reflect on:
Enthusiasm: May seem different in real life; in fact, nobody wants to participate in the project; Enthusiasm should definitely be redefined in terms of finding volunteers on the project team.
Confusion: Getting started doesn’t necessarily mean we’re ready for the meat; Right now, clarification of any imaginable basic concept is urgently required.
Disappointment: At this very early stage in the process, participants realize the impossibility of the project; you might even feel a bit of despair.
Finding a scapegoat: As a logical consequence, someone to blame is found very early; there is no way to hide in disguise.
Punishing the innocent: In most cases, the weakest member of the group has to assume the role of loser.
Viewer Reward: Unbelievable but simply true in every case – someone who doesn’t care at all will be rewarded undeservedly – the winner takes it all.
These typical planning phases described above are more likely to happen in our business world.
How do you feel about them? Do they sound like anything to you in terms of your own experience so far? Is there anyone who seriously questions this planning philosophy? In case you run into someone, please keep me posted. I am quite curious about the results.
Do we have a solid financial (investment) foundation that justifies our intentions due to potential fundraising needs later on? Basically, would you like to end up with an inexpensive shoelace solution?
Can we make sure that the contents and scope of the project are well defined?
Watch out, does everyone really know what it’s about, what the title implies, and what it means to the audience? Let’s get it right: do we reduce the idea of this project to its mere abbreviation, like staying in touch for the sake of compliance, or will we boldly refer to its overall corporate identity, that is, successfully bridging the gap between theory and practice?
Have we chosen the right business partner, that is, who will be the right consulting company that will accompany the project for a long time? In fact, there are surely many famous and reputable consultants, who are basically fit for this job and interested enough in getting it. But what are the substantial criteria for choosing the only one? I would be interested in this selection procedure eager to know the prerequisites and assumptions.
So how do you figure out how to reasonably trust a serious consulting firm? In this case, ask for an official written proof, such as your name. Doesn’t that sound credible enough to develop a worthwhile relationship?
Are we seriously thinking about the right team members to participate in the process? This is a really juicy topic that needs to be discussed in detail as well.
Do you happen to know the German translation of Team?
In our company culture, it literally implies that someone else is in charge. Now it is up to you to verify this definition in your case. It probably helps a lot to remember the Someone, Nobody, Anyone and Everybody story that almost every English class will refer to when dealing with grammar questions.
Disclaimer: All characters featured in this article are fictional. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This writing has adult content. Reader discretion is requested. Since I used excerpts or portions of other people’s works for reference purposes, I would like to give credit to the author, respectively Scott Adams.
