Personal Insights
Sap Community – Can you make a difference?
The SAP Community was sinking at least according to me. I wrote this blog in 2017. I also wrote a couple of blogs about how it is doing better and what the community means to me.
So can one person make a difference? Yes. Can a group of people make a difference? Absolutely. The new SAP Champions team was introduced with this blog.
And so you grumble and mumble under your breath, so what? Really another group of people who think they are better than us. Or something like that….
That just means, I get to write another blog. These are just my opinions. They are not official – not like Katarine’s blog.
Myths:
Think they are better than me:
I don’t. I’m pretty sure none of the other champions think that. Champion – “A person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.” Cool, huh? If you have a boiling question or I get many complaints about something. I will try to bring them to the attention of the powers behind the scenes.
Just another group
Are we just another layer? Yes, I believe we are. I’m going to try to “watch you”. Talk with you through blogs and comments. All the time? No, I do have a day job.
They can’t actually help change
Well, that’s one of the many reasons I said yes to this. I believe that this group of people can help bring about change.
For me that doesn’t mean fix all the technical errors. Because I personally can’t do that. I will ask for you if you have a certain one that is just driving you crazy.
They will help bring back SDN
No, I’m not trying for that. But I think we can move forward and make this community even better than the old one. After all we have so much more in the SAP world. So many toys to play with.
More Myths?
Feel free to take a few minutes and respond in the comment section. Positive or negative – I’ll take both.
Conclusion:
The Champions are amazing. I’m still not sure why I was included, but I’m really happy about it. In case you are still wondering? I really believe in the community. I believe there will be more members. In fact there are daily. I believe that some – not all – of the members will come back. We need them.
Now I turn it over to you. What do you want done? What do you like?
Congrats! I really liked this blog post but I’d honestly like to explain if the matter keeping the community alive or bring back SDN days, a lot of people are doing great things and most of them doing all those stuff without any title (Champion or Mentor).
We may consider the Champions program bringing fresh blood to the stage and motive push forward them.
On the other hand, I strongly believe that SAP needs to open and support this kind of programs more often with a clear explanation about titles and their responsibilities. Sadly, SDN days and forum culture out of date. This is not only SAP related struggle. Our sharing, caring methods are dramatically changed (Youtube, Twitter, etc)
If SAP needs to keep alive SAP community they need to find out and support enthusiastic ones for the community sake.
In my case, I have been community member since 2006 but I was not an active member, I was reading blog posts sometimes finding myself in funny conversations and mostly asking technical questions, that’s it. However, last year I won the SAP Scholarship and my life totally changed! After Teched, I understood exactly what community means and doing my best to keep community spirit alive since last year.
These motivational programs and even Teched Scholarships may cause a life-changing experience. So we all need to support and even propose to open new programs by SAP 🙂
Nicely stated Nilay Peksen and I know you are already making alot of positive contributions in the SAP Community. Keep it up as we need more people providing overall support. Well done!
Totally agree. There are so many good things already here. I echo Phil's comment - keep it up. It means so much to see comments and posts and.... really anything that is now residing here.
What exactly do you plan on doing as a SAP Champion to make a difference (something that you did not or could not do before you became a part of the program)?
So...
I have rolled this around in my head a bit. What will I do that I didn't do before? I have several different answers, and I'm not sure any of them describe it. AND remember at this point we are just starting. So for me here it goes.
Are you seeing a theme here? Basically what I couldn't do before was push things forward or see where they stood. Yes, sometimes I begged for answers from certain people. And since they are cool they answered. But I couldn't officially move things forward. That's what I want to do. I want to have better communication between you and the SAP team. Perhaps not you because you do write to them. But there are those without a voice or that are new and just finding there voice.
There was someone here who I called "my hero" Marilyn Pratt. She influenced and continues to influence so many people. For me - she inspired me. She wanted to make a difference and she did. I hope this team will help me be able to be a tenth of an inspiration as she was. This was written by another person I'm a big fan of - Leave the place better than you found it.
So there you have it... Not a lot of difference. Just hoping to have more "influence".
With the risk of sounding rude and ungrateful - I would appreciate more technical blogs from you.. 🙂
Not at all --- I'm working on some projects that I think I can write some technical blogs on too! Yes, I wonder about fluffy blogs. But some of them are needed...
At some point I'll stop fighting with BRF+ and CDS and write something up. 😉
So glad you commented,
Michelle
Asking for more blogs from someone seems quite the opposite of rude and ungrateful! 🙂
Quote from your blog "A person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else" . I've read couple of your blogs where you pointed out how some people respond in not so positive way to some questions in Q&A and asked them to chill out. I am pretty sure that it is one of the reason why u got selected for this 🙂 🙂 and more over your blogs are always inspiring others to to be active in the community 🙂
and Congrats!!
Thank you! You've helped me out more than you know. Yes, I do respond with positive and hopefully construct negative comments.
Super blog Michelle Crapo pitching in my 2 cents
Nabheet
I agree. If we strive towards making this a good community - it will be one.