SAP ERP Implementation full from Remote (Experience sharing)

The typical challenges that can happen when implementation is delayed and has to be executed in a defensive environment. To make it more appealing, the challenges from a close to real  program were explained in this lecture.

For making a big change in the working style with most of the teams (of either side of Customer and service Provider) working from individual locations there is a need to change your existing processes and policies to make every member align to the new working model. It can be HR, Legal, Infrastructure, training, Guidance, Support and Additional Financial funding all policies and processes need a revisit and require fine tuning according to the new model.

Because of a new working environment in which each member works from individual location, you need to define the guidelines on how to still work together and be effective. Define your new working style and run series of sessions to make every member aware of the new working style and align.

You need to revisit all the policies of remote working as well as usage of Organization and Customer assets. This is to ensure the new situation doesn’t miss any important aspects of handling assets with care.

The Process is entirely changed to full remote execution. In addition, each team member sits alone and work on common Project. The new working model raises many apprehensions on areas such as how to work from remote, how to manage and arrange the assets, what happens to employment, how will the payroll is processed etc. A Support desk needed to be created in shortest possible time to ensure the teams do not panic. This lesson explains the aspects of how support desk worked to stabilize the new working model.

It is quite important to ensure the customer is taken in to confidence when you change your execution style. There would be many contractual agreements, approaches and commitments which may have to be changed due to changed situation such as Pandemic. For example, an agreement to work from physically and logically isolated Remote development center may have to be changed due to inability of people to travel and work in the remote office. At the same time such changes should be made with full protection of customer interest.

You as a Middle Manager or the senior executive must ensure that the accountability of each role from top to bottom is re-phrased and made to be known to each team member. It is quite important for all member to recollect and reconfirm their responsibilities, accountabilities, Ownerships and commitment to guide mentor the teams etc.

It is quite important to review the required infrastructure for each team member to work self-sufficiently from home and alone. There might be a policy and practice of letting some roles to work from remote even before pandemic. But such roles are less than 20% of the organization. In addition, the permissions to work from remote were for a short duration in a month only. If every member needs to work from individual locations (home), required infrastructure will have to be scaled up. In addition, you may need more additional infrastructure to replicate physical presence in regular working and in key events such as CRP. This lesson covers these aspects

The role of middle managers is very key to ensure the work from individual location of each project member is executed. Even the individual stakeholder from customer organization must work with self-discipline and clarity to execute their work with minimum follow-up. Managers need to change their working style to some extent and ensure the work is done as if teams are working together in one place. At times, manager may have to do micro-management.

Build the team to work from individual location but still as a team. Create new methods to perform activities that still create the team bond. Online informal interactions, fun games, quiz, and other such activities help a lot.

The SAP Implementaiton Cycle its major phases and activities in each phase are briefly explained. The entire implementation cycle is analyzed in terms of activities, who perform what skills needed, how to perform the activity from remote, what tools, knowledge and capability are required to perform activities from remote are to be reviewed by breaking the entire cycle in to detailed activities.

The total implementation cycle, it's phases and tasks in each phase are broken down to daily tasks with all information about which role performs the task, who will review, who will approve, whom can be consulted, what tools are required, what are the dependencies are all analyzed. This approach was briefly explained in the lesson.

Activities in Business Blue Print Phase of SAP Implementation are analyzed to plan how to execute each task from remote, what tools are required and what additional training is required for team etc.

Activities in Realization Phase of SAP Implementation are analyzed to plan how to execute each task from remote, what tools are required and what additional training is required for team etc.

Activities in GO Live and Support Phase of SAP Implementation are analyzed to plan how to execute each task from remote, what tools are required and what additional training is required for team etc.

There are still challenges in making the IT Projects completely remote. The kind of hard and soft challenges are discussed in the lessons

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