This research presents an overview of the Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation methodology and important tools that make SAP a complete solution to allow any organization to plan and execute the implementation of SAP ERP software. The ASAP (Accelerated SAP) methodology is used as the SAP implementation reference model in this study as most of the companies implementing SAP use ASAP methodology.
In a study of articles on software implementation effectiveness, more than 30% of projects were perceived to have failed because of a lack of effective project planning, while 10% were perceived to have failed because of technology-driven causes.
Content analysis of articles reporting SAP implementations of six companies from all over the world have been done. Four of these companies had a successful SAP ERP implementation and the other two were failures. Sustained executive management support and their ownership of the implementation, project team composition and good project management especially pertaining to process design, testing and training of the end users are the most important factors contributing to the success of SAP implementations in most organizations. Due to long time, cost, and be short of sustained management support/contribution and user involvement/training and testing are seems to be the factors contributing to the success/failure of SAP implementations in most organizations.
SAP- Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing, ERP- Enterprise Resource Planning, ASAP- Accelerated SAP, CRM- Customer Relationship Management, SCM- Supply Chain Management, BI- Business Intelligence, SD – Sales and Distribution, ROI – Return on Investment, SLA- Service Level Agreement, SKU- Stock Keeping Unit, MRO – Maintenance Repair and Operational
