Basic understanding on ASAP Methodology for beginners
Hi All,
This document will help in getting basic understanding on ASAP Methodology.
We’ll discuss below points:
1- What is ASAP Methodology?
2- Phases of ASAP Methodology
3- Brief explanation of each phase
1- What is ASAP Methodology?
- ASAP stands for Accelerated SAP.
- Its purpose is to help design SAP implementation in the most efficient manner possible.
- Its goal is to effectively optimize time, people, quality and other resources, using a proven methodology to implementation.
1- Phase of ASAP Methodology
ASAP focuses on tools and training, wrapped up in a five-phase process oriented road map for guiding implementation.
The road map is composed of five well-known consecutive phases
• Phase 1 Project Preparation
• Phase 2 Business Blueprint
• Phase 3 Realization
• Phase 4 Final Preparation
• Phase 5 Go-Live and support
Brief explanation of each phase
ASAP Methodology – Phase 1 : Project Preparation
Phase-1 initiates with a retrieval of information and resources. It is an important time to assemble the necessary components for the implementation. Some important milestones that need to be accomplished for phase 1 include
• Obtaining senior-level management/stakeholder support
• Identifying clear project objectives
• Architect an efficient decision-making process
• Creating an environment suitable for change and re-engineering
• Building a qualified and capable project team.
ASAP Methodology – Phase 2- Business Blueprint
SAP has defined a business blueprint phase to help extract pertinent information about your company that is necessary for implementation. These blueprints are in the form of questionnaires that are designed to probe for information that uncovers how your company does business. As such, they also serve to document the implementation.
Each business blueprint document essentially outlines your future business processes and business requirements. The kinds of questions asked are germane to the particular business function, as seen in the following sample questions:
1) 1) What information do you capture on a purchase order?
2) 2) What information is required to complete a purchase order?
ASAP Methodology – Phase- 3 – Realization
With the completion of the business in phase 2, “functional” experts are now ready to begin configuring SAP.
The Realization phase is broken in to two parts.
1) 1) Your SAP consulting team helps you configure your baseline system, called the baseline configuration.
1) 2) Your implementation project team fine-tunes that system to meet all your business and process requirements as part of the fine tuning configuration.
The initial configuration completed during the base line configuration is based on the information that you provided in your blueprint document. The remaining approximately 20% of your configuration that was not tackled during the baseline configuration is completed during the fine tuning configuration.
Fine tuning usually deals with the exceptions that are not covered in baseline configuration. This final bit of tweaking represents the work necessary to fit your special needs.
Configuration Testing-
With the help of your SAP consulting team, you segregate your business processes into cycles of related business flows. The cycles serve as independent units that enable you to test specific parts of the business process. You can also work through configuring the SAP implementation guide (IMG). A tool used to assist you in configuring your SAP system in a step by step manner.
Knowledge Transfer-
As the configuration phase comes to a close, it becomes necessary for the Project team to be self-sufficient in their knowledge of the configuration of your SAP system.
Knowledge transfer to the configuration team tasked with system maintenance (that is, maintenance of the business processes after Go-live) needs to be completed at this time. In addition, the end users tasked with actually using the system for day-to-day business purposes must be trained.
ASAP Methodology – Phase 4 – Final Preparation
As phase 3 merges into phase 4, you should find yourselves not only in the midst of SAP training, but also in the midst of rigorous functional and stress testing.
Phase 4 also concentrates on the fine tuning of your configuration before Go-live and more importantly, the migration of data from your old system or systems to SAP.
Workload testing (including peak volume, daily load, and other forms of stress testing), and integration or functional testing are conducted to ensure the accuracy of your data and the stability of your SAP system. Because you should have begun testing back in phase 2, you do not have too far to go until Go-live.
Now is an important time to perform preventative maintenance checks to ensure optimal performance at your SAP system. At the conclusion of phase 4, take time to plan and document a Go-live strategy. Preparation for Go-live means preparing for your end-users questions as they start actively working on the new SAP system.
ASAP Methodology – Phase 5 – Go-live and Support
The Go-live milestone is itself is easy to achieve; a smooth and uneventful Go-live is another matter altogether. Preparation is the key, including attention to what-if scenarios related not only to the individual business processes deployed but also to the functioning of technology underpinning these business processes and preparation for ongoing support, including maintenance contracts and documented processes and procedures are essential.
Thanks & Regards,
Anamika Jain
The descriptions above sound somewhat dated. I recommend everyone to look at official description of ASAP phases for each of the ASAP 8 pre-selections that are linked from the main page in the community:
http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-8032
Its good know about basics of ASAP.
Thanking you sharing Anamika Jain, if you share some real time documents it will be helpful to freshers.
Well explained, Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
G.S.Ramanjaneyulu.
Very fruitful content for ASAP methodology. Thanks Anamika.
Thanks Rajeev.
Doesn't matter if it is old or new. I had no idea what ASAP meant and after googling it, this is the first document that came up. At least I have an idea now what it is all about.It is explained properly for beginners. Thanks Anamika Well done.
Thanks Jacobs.
Well documented ... I suggest you supplement this document by some real time project example...
Just for value addition and better understanding
Hello Anamika ,
Very useful Document , Very Simple and understandable language.
Regards
Shrinivas
In Business Blueprint: as is and to be mapping is done on excel files - journal entries are penned down. The Solution architect will be mapping the various interfaces and the impacts.
thanks
Arvind Leo Pereira
Thanks Ma'am
Thanks Anamika, for providing basic info on ASAP Methodology
Thank you very well Explained.
Very Good explained.
Thanks