Sap R/3 Implementation Guide

by Hernandez, Jose

• ISBN13: 9780071343138
• ISBN10: 007134313X
• Edition: 1st
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: MCGRAW HILL BOOK COMPANY

Summary

"SAP R/3 Implementation" covers SAP releases 3.0, 3.1 and the new 4.0, compiles the most frequently asked questions from SAP PR professionals, and gives case studies of successful implementation, and discussions of difficulties encountered.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xv
The Business World and the Standard Application Systems	xvi
Intended Audience	xvii
Book Structure	xvii
Switching to Business Projects with SAP R/3	1	(44)
Introduction to Business Applications	3	(6)
SAP Success	4	(1)
Drivers for Implementing SAP	5	(1)
Does SAP Have Competition?	6	(1)
SAP Consultants and Other Species	7	(2)
The Role of Technology in Business Projects	9	(1)
SAP AG: The Company	10	(3)
Strategy and Releases	13	(11)
SAP Release 3.0	14	(1)
Internet Release: SAP R/3 3.1	15	(2)
SAP and Electronic Commerce	17	(1)
Toward Componentization: R/3 Release 4.0	18	(2)
Full-flavored Business Framework: R/3 Release 4.5	20	(1)
EnjoySAP: R/3 Release 4.6	21	(1)
Products Complementary to R/3	21	(1)
Rapid Implementation Solution Set: ASAP	22	(1)
Partnership Strategy	23	(1)
SAP R/3: Software and Beyond	24	(15)
Client/Server Technology	28	(2)
Open and Standard Systems	30	(3)
User Interface	33	(1)
Integration of Business Applications	34	(1)
Development Environment: ABAP Workbench	34	(2)
Configuration and Implementation Tools	36	(2)
R/3 Business Engineer	38	(1)
SAP Services	39	(6)
The Online Service System: An Introduction to the OSS	41	(1)
EarlyWatch: The Preventive Maintenance Service	42	(3)
SAP Projects and Implementation Issues	45	(32)
Scope of Implementation Issues	47	(1)
Introduction to SAP Implementation Projects	48	(3)
Identifying Implementation Needs	50	(1)
Implementation Risks	50	(1)
SAP Implementation Solution Sets	51	(3)
Implementation Issues: The Big Picture	54	(3)
Tools, Utilities, and Applications for Helping Implementation Projects	57	(6)
Problems and Success Factors in SAP Implementation Projects	63	(8)
The Cost of an Implementation Project	64	(1)
What Sappers Say About the Problems They Had	65	(3)
What Sappers Say About the Success Factors	68	(2)
ASAP Conditions for Effective Implementation	70	(1)
Implementation Strategies	71	(1)
The Pull Approach to SAP Implementation	72	(5)
Key Success Factors for a Pull Strategy	76	(1)
Process and Methodology Issues	77	(56)
Selecting and Using a Methodology	79	(1)
Modeling Business Processes	80	(7)
Performing a Gap Analysis	87	(3)
Starting Point: Analyzing ``AS-IS''	88	(1)
The Vision: Analyzing the ``TO-BE''	89	(1)
Filling the Gaps	89	(1)
Monitoring the Project Scope	90	(3)
Customizing	93	(2)
The IMG	93	(2)
Checking the Quality of an Implementation Project	95	(2)
Implementation Solution Sets	97	(4)
Client Concept	98	(1)
Country-specific Standard Settings	99	(1)
Transport System	100	(1)
Client Copy	100	(1)
The Procedure Model	101	(19)
Work Packages	102	(4)
Project Management with the Procedure Model	106	(2)
Organization and Conceptual Design	108	(5)
Detailed Analysis and System Setup	113	(3)
Preparations for Going Live	116	(4)
Productive Operation	120	(2)
Introduction to ASAP	122	(11)
Project Preparation	125	(1)
Business Blueprint	126	(1)
Realization	127	(1)
Final Preparation	128	(2)
Go Live and Support	130	(3)
People and Knowledge Issues in SAP Projects	133	(64)
The Commitment of Upper Management	134	(2)
The Issue of the Project Organization	136	(11)
ASAP Approach to Project Organization	138	(1)
An Approach to Roles and Responsibilities	139	(6)
A Simple Knowledge-based Approach to Project Organization	145	(1)
Project Organization Summary	146	(1)
Project Management	147	(3)
Dealing with Change Management	150	(9)
Ability to Change as a Key SAP Feature	151	(1)
Top Leaders in Project Success	151	(1)
Change Management as an Implementation Issue	152	(2)
A Word about Change Leadership	154	(1)
ASAP Approach to Change Management	154	(4)
Conclusions to be Drawn from the ASAP Change Methodology	158	(1)
An Approach to Change Leadership: Realities in SAP R/3 Implementation Projects	159	(15)
How Change Affects Organizations and Persons	159	(5)
Managerial Transformation and Change	164	(5)
What to Do Before this Change?	169	(1)
Of What Change Are We Speaking?	170	(1)
Why Are Change Programs Useful?	170	(1)
Vision and Direction	171	(1)
Planning and Management of Change	172	(2)
Change Management Summary	174	(1)
Dealing with Consultants and Key Users	174	(2)
Knowledge Management Issues in SAP Implementation Projects	176	(1)
The Communications Strategy Issue	177	(3)
ASAP Approach to Effective Project Communications	178	(2)
Training in SAP Projects	180	(7)
Training Strategy within ASAP Roadmap	183	(1)
SAP Knowledge Management Initiative	183	(1)
Knowledge Transfer as an Implementation Issue	184	(1)
International Demo and Education System (IDES)	185	(1)
InfoDB: SAP Knowledge Warehouse	185	(1)
Summary of the Training Strategy Issue	186	(1)
Documentation, Standards, and Procedures	187	(10)
Types of Documentation	187	(2)
The Problem of Defining Standards and Procedures	189	(1)
Documentation Aids	189	(1)
Introduction of the R/3 Operation Guide	190	(2)
The Administration and Operation Manual	192	(3)
Summary of the Documentation, Standards, and Procedures Issue	195	(2)
Development-related Issues in SAP Projects	197	(46)
Program and Report Development	199	(5)
Customized Reporting Using ABAP	200	(1)
The Issue of Enhancing the System	201	(1)
Introduction to User Exits	202	(1)
A Word of Caution about Nonstandard Enhancements	203	(1)
What To Do When Changes are Needed	203	(1)
Summary of Program Development	204	(1)
Data Migration and Data Load	204	(5)
Data Transfer Methods: Batch Input and Direct Input	206	(2)
LSM (Legacy System Migration) Workbench	208	(1)
Summary of the Data Transfer Issue	208	(1)
Building Interfaces	209	(6)
SAP Online Interface Techniques	211	(4)
Teamwork and Quality on Development Programs	215	(5)
Teamwork: The Workbench and Customizing Organizer	217	(1)
Transport System Concepts	218	(2)
Summary of Teamwork and Quality	220	(1)
Getting Rid of Bugs: The Issue of Applying Patches	220	(4)
Personalizing the System: Towards the Business Client	224	(2)
Introduction to the ABAP/4 Development Workbench	226	(13)
Development Environment of the SAP R/3 Systems	227	(1)
Introduction to the ABAP Programming Language	228	(1)
ABAP Object-Oriented Features	229	(1)
Overview of ABAP Workbench Tools	230	(3)
ABAP Workbench Changes Introduction In Release 4.0	233	(2)
Basic Concepts of the Development Environment	235	(1)
ABAP Data Dictionary	236	(1)
The Role of the ABAP Dictionary in the R/3 Systems	237	(2)
Introduction to the Business Framework	239	(2)
BAPIs	240	(1)
Programming with Business Objects	241	(2)
Technical Implementation	243	(50)
The Scope of Technical Implementation	245	(1)
Overview of Technical Activities in SAP Projects	246	(11)
System Landscape and Client Concept	257	(5)
Sizing	262	(5)
Systems Sizing	262	(2)
Network Infrastructure Requirements	264	(2)
Scalability	266	(1)
Summary of the Sizing Issue	267	(1)
Choosing the Right Platform	267	(2)
Client Copies and Installing SAP Systems	269	(3)
Copying Clients	270	(1)
A Word about SAP Systems Installation	270	(1)
RRR: R/3 Ready-to-Run	271	(1)
Summary of Systems Installation	272	(1)
High Availability	272	(4)
Information Integrity	272	(1)
High Availability and Switchover Systems	273	(3)
Backup and Recovery Strategies on R/3 Systems	276	(6)
Performing Backups with BRBACKUP	278	(1)
Operating System and Database Backup Utilities	279	(1)
The Triple Mirror Approach	279	(2)
Standby Database Server and the Roll Forward Approach	281	(1)
Summary of the Issue of Backup and Recovery	282	(1)
Batch Processing Requirements	282	(11)
Why Use Background Processing?	283	(2)
Defining Background Jobs	285	(1)
An Approach to Background Processing Planning and Design	286	(1)
Printing Issues in SAP Installations	287	(3)
Front-end Software Distribution	290	(3)
Going Live, Continuous Change, and Productive Operation Issues	293	(36)
Does an SAP Project Ever Finish?	294	(2)
The Issue of Going Live	296	(4)
Pre-production to Production	298	(1)
Soon After: Some Stories	298	(1)
Solutions for Going Live	299	(1)
Systems Management	300	(12)
Skills Sets for Systems Managers	302	(3)
Planning Systems Management	305	(1)
Operation Checklist	305	(4)
SAP Operation and Maintenance: Basic Laws	309	(2)
Systems Management Summary	311	(1)
Performance and Tuning	312	(3)
Workload Analysis	313	(2)
Supporting SAP: The Help Desk	315	(4)
Supporting SAP: Troubleshooting	319	(4)
A Basic Technical Troubleshooting Handbook	320	(3)
Upgrade Projects	323	(4)
Approach to an Upgrade Project	324	(2)
Repository Switch	326	(1)
Continuous Change	327	(2)
Implementation Subprojects	329	(64)
Dealing with Reporting	330	(14)
Why Is Reporting an Implementation Issue?	332	(1)
Reporting During Implementation Phases	333	(2)
R/3 Reporting Options and Tools	335	(3)
The Business Information Warehouse	338	(4)
Approach to Reporting	342	(1)
Summary of Reporting	343	(1)
Testing Activities on SAP Implementation Projects	344	(13)
Best Practices in Automated Testing	347	(3)
Understanding the Testing Process	350	(1)
Typical Testing Steps	351	(1)
Identifying Test Requiring Automation	352	(1)
Task Automation and Test Setup	352	(1)
Who Should be Testing?	353	(1)
General Concepts in Automated Testing	353	(2)
ASAP Approach to Testing Activities	355	(1)
SAP Test Workbench and CATT	356	(1)
Summary of Testing	357	(1)
Archiving Projects	357	(11)
SAP ArchiveLink	358	(1)
Optical Document Archiving	359	(4)
Application Data Archiving	363	(1)
Features and Requirements for Archiving Solutions	363	(3)
Approach to Archiving Projects	366	(2)
Summary of Application Data Archiving	368	(1)
Security on SAP Systems	368	(5)
Security at the Presentation Layer	369	(1)
Security at the Application Layer	370	(1)
Security at the Operating System Layer	370	(1)
Database Security	371	(1)
Security at the Network Layer	371	(1)
The ASAP Approach and Activities for Security	372	(1)
Summary of the Security Concept	373	(1)
R/3 Authorization Projects	373	(11)
R/3 User Administration	375	(1)
Overview of the Authorization System	376	(1)
Authorization Profiles	377	(1)
Composite Profiles	377	(1)
Authorizations	377	(1)
Authorization Objects	378	(1)
Authorization Fields	379	(1)
Profile Generator	380	(1)
ASAP Approach to Authorization Activities	381	(2)
Summary of the Authorization Concept Issue	383	(1)
Putting the Ribbon on the Package: SAP Business Workflow	384	(9)
Where Workflow Can be Useful	385	(1)
Concepts and Components in SAP Business Workflow	386	(2)
Workflow and Flexible Organizational Management	388	(1)
Workflow Customizing	389	(1)
Objects, Wizards, and Forms	390	(3)
Overview of R/3 Applications	393	(52)
Financial Application Modules	395	(13)
FI: Financial Accounting Applications	396	(7)
EC: Enterprise Controlling	403	(1)
IM: Investment Management	404	(1)
TR: Treasury	404	(4)
Logistics Application Modules	408	(32)
LO: Logistics General	409	(1)
MM: Materials Management	410	(3)
MM-CBP: Consumption-Based Planning	413	(1)
PM: Plant Maintenance	414	(3)
PP: Production Planning	417	(6)
PS: Project System Management	423	(8)
QM: Quality Management	431	(3)
SD: Sales and Distribution Module	434	(6)
Human Resources Application Modules	440	(2)
IS Modules: SAP Strategy for Vertical Industries	442	(3)
Basis R/3: Architecture and System Management	445	(46)
Basis Components (BC) Module	446	(2)
Concepts of R/3 Architecture	448	(3)
SAP System Identification (SID)	448	(1)
Client Concept	449	(1)
Transactions	450	(1)
Dialog Steps	451	(1)
The System Interfaces	451	(6)
Operating System Interface	452	(1)
The Dispatcher Process	453	(2)
Work Process Architecture	455	(2)
The R/3 Work Processes	457	(9)
Dialog Work Process	457	(3)
Background Work Process	460	(1)
Spool Work Process	461	(1)
Enqueue Work Process	461	(1)
Update Work Process	462	(2)
Message Server	464	(1)
Gateway Server	465	(1)
The Interface with the Database Management System	466	(2)
The Data in the SAP System	467	(1)
Types of Tables	467	(1)
The ABAP Dictionary in the Development Environment	468	(1)
The Presentation Interface	468	(1)
Communication Protocols and Interfaces	469	(1)
RFC: Remote Function Calls	470	(1)
SAP Instances	470	(1)
SAP Services Distribution and the Client/Server Architecture	471	(7)
Centralized SAP Installations	472	(2)
Factors for Distributing SAP	474	(1)
SAP Client/Server Architecture	475	(1)
SAP Servers	476	(1)
SAP Services	477	(1)
Guidelines for Distributed Configurations in R/3	478	(3)
The Administration of SAP Systems	481	(6)
Basic SAP R/3 System Management	482	(1)
The Computer Center Management System (CCMS)	483	(2)
Administrator Duties with the CCMS	485	(1)
CCMS since Release 4.x	486	(1)
SAP Database Administration	487	(4)
Bibliography	491	(2)
Index	493