Saturday, August 27, 2016

Design, Prototyping & Construction Process Path

Design, Prototyping & Construction

This path deals with the iterative design, prototyping and construction of an integrated packaged system, which forms the heart of the implementation project.  It would normally follow a “Project Model” which would have established the high-level requirements and design for the system along with global design issues.
It would normally be followed by the “Readiness & Rollout” path.
It is divided into five main parts:
  • Prepare to Prototype
  • Plan and Initiate Team Training Process
  • Build base model
  • Prototyping process
  • Build
This path has been created primarily for Package Software implementations.  The processes are referred to by Package Software (SAP) specific names.  Some generic processes have different titles.
Ref
Process
Optionality
Definition

Prepare to Prototype

D100
Prepare / review / agree design topics, IP descriptions and sign offs.
Normal practice
Review or create the definitions of topics to be used in structuring the work into discrete logically independent parts.  Work will be assigned, executed, controlled, documented, reviewed and signed-off within these divisions.
D111
Review technical environment and plan SAP installation
Optional - usually required when insufficient detail was included in the Delivery Approach documentation and segment plan.  (SAP-specific variant of D110.)
Plan in detail the physical installation of the SAP software, additional systems software, hardware, communications equipment, servers, PCs etc.
D130
Install hardware, communications equipment, system software, and SAP modules as required for development, implementation and live running.
Optional - required when insufficient provision is already available for the project.
Install and commission items required for design, development, implementation and live running.  This includes system environment requirements, eg log ons, access security, accounts, budgets etc.
D135
Design and set up backup/recovery provisions (development & test environment)
Normal practice
Ensure the development environment is adequately backed up.
D136
Design and set up system security provisions
Normal practice
Ensure that adequate system security is in place for the development and testing of the system.
D140
Define, agree and instigate change control procedures
Optional - normal practice where there are several key users and/or several people on the team.  (When no formal mechanism is in use - all changes must still be documented and agreed in writing.)
Formal Change Control procedure must be in place and used.  The baseline for controlling changes is the definition of requirements.  Changes from the defined requirements, must be agreed before becoming firm in the design.
D150
Define and instigate Project Team responsibilities and techniques for technical support, bug reporting, fixing, SAP liaison etc.
Optional - normal practice where there are several people in the team.
During development there is a need for clear responsibilities to be defined for running and supporting the development system.  For example, who applies bug fixes? Who runs the batch jobs?  Who sets up the security access rights?
D190
Issues - control, escalate, resolve
Optional - used where there are several people involved in the project
Issues that arise during the design work are noted, logged, controlled and resolved.  Escalation and tie-breaking mechanisms are used where necessary.
D211
Plan & prepare SAP prototyping facilities
Normal practice for iterative prototyping
Agree and set up the procedures and facilities for the iterative prototyping work.  Make sure developers will not adversely impact upon the work of others.
Plan and Initiate Team Training Process
D120
Plan, prepare and conduct SAP and general training for project participants
Optional - usually required unless whole team have requisite experience in all aspects of the solution.
Normally, team members need training before productive work can commence.  Training may also be appropriate for management and other staff working with the project team.
D115
Team building and education
Optional - good practice with large teams
General workshops and events for the project team may be used to ensure a common commitment to the project's objectives and approach.
L200
Present approach to user community and team
Optional - good practice where there is a large or diverse user base involved
General workshops and events for client management and affected users may be used to ensure a common understanding of the project's objectives and needs.
Build base model
D322
Define, agree and set up global SAP parameters
Normal practice in Prototyping
Essential global parameters must be configured before the general prototyping work can be undertaken.  These will often affect future phases or modules so it is important they are considered in detail for the full defined programme.
D324
Define, agree and set up SAP R/3 Organisational Structures
Normal Practice for R/3 implementations
The R/3 organisation structures should be determined, set up and agreed.
D354
Select Business Processes from SAP R/3 Reference Model
Normal Practice for R/3 implementations where the reference model is being used.
Select processes from the R/3 Reference Model.  Examine any business process options which remain outstanding and agree the best practice to be adopted within the capabilities of R/3.
D364
Configure initial SAP R/3 system as prototyping model
Normal Practice for R/3 implementations
Set up essential initial master data, transaction data, periodic data, procedures, reports etc (not organisational structure).  Use preconfigured standard solutions where available.
D383
Build core testing data for prototyping
Normal Practice for R/3 implementations
Build test data scenarios for use during the iterative prototyping process
D400
Design / prototype by topic
Optional - In Base Model relatively few issues will require fresh design decisions as the basic design will have been established in the Project Model (iterative design is undertaken in the "Prototyping Process" - see below).  Can alternatively use D450
Design or define each topic using prototyping techniques wherever appropriate,  documenting the requirements, options, recommended approach and details in an Implementation Paper per topic.
D450
Design / prototype by topic (brief)
Optional - In Base Model relatively few issues will require fresh design decisions as the basic design will have been established in the Project Model  (iterative design is undertaken in the "Prototyping Process" - see below).  Can alternatively use D400
Design or define each topic within the project, using prototyping techniques wherever appropriate,  documenting the recommended approach and details in a Brief Implementation Paper (BIP) per topic.
D466
Users present model to client organisation in workshop
Optional - used where value is added
"User" members of the project team present the model to a wider audience of management and users.  This builds commitment and understanding, and helps to reinforce the team members' understanding of both the needs and the prototype solution.
D160
Consider, review and plan approach to interfacing and systems integration
Optional - used where there will be significant interfacing or integration.
This process looks at the issues which arise out of the desired levels of integration between separate elements of the overall project and with external systems.  Plans and approaches will be modified accordingly.
D167
Consider and review needs for ABAP or custom development and modifications
Optional - used where gaps in functionality have been identified and the client organisation wishes them to be addressed by custom development
Where gaps in the available functionality have been identified, the use of custom development may be considered.  This may involve the use of ABAP, external report writers or programming languages.  Normally such changes increase the costs and risks.
D170
Build / maintain data dictionary / data model
Optional - not recommended except where required by the client, or where the technical solution is part of a larger database, or where an enterprise data model is in use.
Build or revise a data model for the system.  Normally a formal approach would be used such as ARIS toolset, SSADM or Merise, depending on the organisation’s usual practice.
Prototyping process
D180
Data Conversion Strategy
Optional - used where existing data will be brought into the new system
A study should be made into the needs for data conversion.  Data availability and integrity is often wrongly assumed during design work. SAP specific tools should be considered.  Recommendations will be made for securing data as required.
D300
Prepare discussion papers
Optional - discussion papers may have been identified in the segment plan or may be used to explore any particular issue that arises as the team see fit.
These are short papers covering a particular subject.  They are not formally controlled, reviewed or signed off.  Their purpose is to assist in the process of deciding an issue during the design work.
D392
Set up, execute & manage SAP prototyping workshops
Normal Practice in prototyping
Identify detailed design & policy/procedure issues on differences between the base SAP package functionality and business processes.  Develop recommendations, eg modify the package or procedures, or elevate issue to senior management for policy decision.
D393
Manage, control, refresh core data for prototyping
Normal Practice in prototyping
The test data bed should be proactively managed to ensure consistency during the iterative prototyping stages, to explore new areas and to correct earlier errors.
D400
Design / prototype by topic
Normal practice
Design or define each topic using prototyping techniques wherever appropriate,  documenting the requirements, options, recommended approach and details in an Implementation Paper per topic.
D450
Design / prototype by topic (brief)
Normal practice
Design or define each topic within the project, using prototyping techniques wherever appropriate,  documenting the recommended approach and details in a Brief Implementation Paper (BIP) per topic.
D471
Consolidate SAP prototyping results
Normal Practice in iterative prototyping
Review the findings and conclusions from the iterative prototyping.  Consider, in particular, what (if anything) needs to be refined further in future iterations.
D481
Resolve outstanding policy issues
Optional
Identify outstanding detailed policy / procedure issues.  Agree recommendations, eg modify the package or procedures, or elevate issue to senior management for policy decision.
D488
Final SAP Gap Analysis
Normal Practice with SAP implementations
A final analysis of the business solution that evolved during the prototyping process in comparison with the originally stated business needs.  Consequences of any shortfall will be analysed and agreed.  Any appropriate action will be reviewed and agreed.
Build
D600
Create detailed specifications for non-siips IT development work
Optional - used where non-siips IT development tasks are involved in the overall technical solution
Define the technical requirements to a sufficient level that they can be used in the detailed design, programming and construction of a component.  (nb Most common custom needs are considered explicitly below.)
D602
Finalise interface design
Optional - used where the are interfaces to be developed
Finalise the design of components of the interfaces based on specifications of design phase.
D604
Finalise data conversion design
Optional - used where existing data will be converted by automated methods
Finalise the design of the extraction, validation, translation, control and input systems for data conversion.
D606
Finalise design for functional modifications / additions / custom reports
Optional - used where required
Finalise the design for functional modifications / additions / custom reports that will be custom developed to supplement the SAP system functionality.
D650
Instigate non-siips parallel tasks
Optional - used where non-siips tasks are required in the overall technical solution
Non-siips tasks should be instigated as appropriate. Typically these will be undertaken by a separate programming team.  Controls may be set in place to monitor progress, to ensure adequate quality and to ensure delivery will be on time and within budget.
D700
Configure system parameters, codes, structures, etc
Normal Practice
Each aspect of the system's basic configuration system should be set up in accordance with the agreed implementation papers.  Most basic parameters will have been set during the prototyping.  At this stage the full tables are populated.
D711
Set up screens, queries & report writer etc
Optional - as required.  (SAP-specific variant of D710.)
Each agreed optional customisation of the system should be set up in accordance with the agreed implementation papers.  Most basic parameters will have been set during the prototyping.  At this stage the full tables are populated.
D656
Build / modify existing non-SAP application software
Optional - as required
Any software development work not based upon the SAP Basis system is undertaken (but not necessarily by the SAP project team).
D658
Build / modify SAP package software
Optional - as required
Produce and unit test ABAP software components of the system based on specifications.  Create interface, new application/ conversion programs, plus modification of existing applications/system software, installation of supplementary software etc.

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