How Good an Idea is Outsourcing SAP Services Support?

January 2, 2012

What This Article Covers Does outsourcing IT support work very well? What are some of the common problems with outsourced support? How does outsourced IT support compare to other types of outsourcing? Background Outsourced support for SAP is a popular activity. Many companies see tantalizing opportunities at cost savings. Issues With Support These are examples …

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Recruiters Who Pretend LinkedIn Does not Exist

October 24, 2011

What This Article Covers Why are misleading and controlling emails from recruiters so common? Why is the use of a private “database” of resumes so dated with LinkedIn? Background I receive a large number of emails from recruiters. Many of these emails are deliberately misleading, and most of them have strong aspects of control in …

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How SAP Remotely Controls Implementation Partners

September 29, 2011

What This Article Covers How do the major consulting companies work? How has SAP remotely controlled them to recommend their products regardless of the fit with the business requirements? What is an “advisory function” and how are the major consulting companies unable to offer objective advice? Background The major consulting companies have a very binary …

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Why the IBM System Implementation Approach is IT Centric and Elitist

July 17, 2011

What is Covered in this Article?  What is the IBM systems implementation approach and why is it so simpatico with how many IT departments like to behave? Does IBM’s approach lead to good outcomes? Why is the approach elitist? Background I observe this perspective quite commonly in IT departments that they have become so tired of the …

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What is an SAP Platinum Consultant?

July 3, 2011

What is Covered in this Article?  What is the problem with SAP Platinum Consultants? How much freedom to SAP Platinum Consultant’s actually have in their recommendations? How are SAP Platinum Consultant’s part of the process of cover up SAP errors? What do public record lawsuits tell us about how SAP consultants are able to express …

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The Joys of Eliminating Large Consulting Companies from Your Company and Life

May 27, 2011

What This Article Covers What problems do working with or for large consulting companies bring up? What are the benefits of cutting them out of your life? Why do large consulting companies bring a high degree of rigidity to projects? Background I often see commercials which describe the benefits of a weight loss regiment. Certainly, …

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Using an External System to Check Optimization Results

April 6, 2011

What This Article Covers What is a prototype environment?  What is the purpose of solution triangulation?  Why aren’t external prototyping applications frequently used in supply planning?  What are the problems with complex solutions like cost optimization, and how can external prototype environments help manage them? Background I recently worked on a project where the company …

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My Education in Corruption by the Major Consulting Firms in SAP Services

March 27, 2011

Working in large consulting companies is a boot camp corruption. Working for Accenture, KPMG and Deloitte I received the most up to date training on how to lie, and how to justify lying the clients. In the large consulting firms, this is required to fit in with the culture. Interestingly, I am relatively frequently asked …

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Key Figure Verification and a Lesson in the Importance of Solution Documentation

February 23, 2011

What This Article Covers What are Key Figures? What are the common problems with technical documentation on SAP projects? What is the best way to manage configuration (and other) types of project documentation? What does this case study say about the importance of solution documentation? Background I recently went through an interesting experience at a …

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Understanding the Complexities of the Standard SAP ERP to APO Integration

February 22, 2011

What This Article Covers What are common questions with respect to SAP ERP to APO integration? What is the CIF? What is a seriously false assumption regarding this integration?  Why aren’t external prototyping applications frequently used in supply planning?  What are the problems with complex solutions like cost optimization, and how can external prototype environments …

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