Customer Reviews

SAP R/3 Implementation With ASAP : The Official SAP Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

When you click on the book it says "From Experts" and with SAP demo CD in the previous page. I ordered the book and what I got is SAP R/3 implementation with ASAP. "An essential guide to System Architects, Admins, and Tech. consulants. Based on Release 4.0, Featuring Free Demo Exam Similar to CTC Exam". This is the cover of the book I received. So it may be a good book for IT Managers, etc. To a functional consultant, this is almost useless. On the technical side it almost looks like the SAP R/3 System Administration book from SYBEX with ASAP procedures.

I got this book based on a recommendation of an associate who liked the way it laid out the implementation of a complex software suite. I am not a SAP R/3 specialist, but am an IS/IT consultant who develops and implements service level management solutions and also manages projects of the complexity and scope of an R/3 implementation. Moreover, I have been providing consulting services to a company that does specialize in R/3 integration, so reading this book became important for a number of professional reasons.

Things I most like: the book is an easy read and is laid out in a sequence that allows you to fully understand the issues and factors, and tasks and deliverables required to implement R/3 using SAP's ASAP approach. I loved the clear illustrations and the sequencing of tasks. I had no problem understanding this book even though I had never implemented (or even supported R/3). I saw numerous parallels between the R/3 implementation requirements and those of past projects in which I had participated. When I was in the mainframe world a book this complete and clearly laid out would have been worth its weight in gold. In fact, the clarity and information contained in the book is much better than anything I have read or used in *any* environment.

I found none of the major shortcomings pointed out by previous reviewers. I think the book addresses security in the detail called for because this implementation aspect is tailored to each enterprise and no single book can possibly cover it in detail. I also found the information presented on two levels: one for technical staff and the other for business process owners, both groups will be playing a big role in any implementation. Perhaps if the business and technical information were segmented in the book it would be more accessible to both groups; however, it would also break the flow of the book. I personally like it the way it is. I do agree that the CD ROM contains material that has nothing top do with the book's topic.

Overall, I learned a lot about SAP R/3 ASAP implementation and general issues and factors for any large-scale application implementation from this book. The author did an excellent job of structuring the book to correspond to project phases and stages, and the well designed illustrations greatly aided the text. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is going to be involved in an R/3 ASAP implementation, or who needs a good model for planning the implementation of any complex enterprise application suite. It earns 5 stars from my point of view.

This is a high-level view of an R/3 ASAP implementation. It is too light for detailed planning, but does cover the implementation process sufficiently for project managers and implementation team members new to the SAP R/3 environment.

Strengths: The author does an excellent job of explaining the R/3 environment and the ASAP implementation approach. Each chapter contains useful advice, and the way the information is presented will make the development of a work breakdown structure and project plan a fairly straightforward task. It is clearly written and well illustrated, and provides complete coverage of the implementation, albeit at a high level. I like the fact that post implementation requirements are addressed, which is something that is unfortunately not considered until too late in a project.

Weaknesses: This book begs for checklists, an example work breakdown structure and end-to-end project plan. I did not like the superficial way security planning was addressed - the information provided in the chapter devoted to that topic is so generic as to be useless. Since the book is aimed at guiding architects, administrators and technical members of the implementation project team the accompanying CD ROM lent no value to the book because sample test questions for SAP certification have nothing to do with an ASAP implementation. The CD ROM's storage could have been put to much better use had checklists, project plan templates and other ASAP deliverables been provided instead.

Overall this book is not as valuable to its intended audience as it is for project planners and managers. It can be used as a valuable reference for developing an RFI or RFP for an ASAP implementation. It can also be effectively used as a training guide to prepare an IS/IT department for an implementation because it does give a complete picture of what needs to be done, and to an extent, why. It merits 3.5 stars in my opinion, but I'll give it the benefit of 4 instead of 3, which are my only rating choices.