Switching the SAP ERP from ECC 620 to S/4Hana. Defining the criteria for Big bang or a dedicated process migration?

Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Research focus

1.2 Methodology

2 Theoretical Background

2.1 SAP

2.2 ERP

2.3 SAP ERP ECC 620

2.4 SAP S/4HANA

3 Three scenarios of a S/4HANA implementation

3.1 Greenfield approach

3.2 Brownfield approach

3.3 Landscape transformation

3.4 Critique

4 Change Management

4.1 Decision-making

4.2 Digital Change

4.3 The change process by Kotter

4.4 Critique

5 Implementation Strategies

5.1 Big bang implementation

5.2 Dedicated implementation

6 Methodological foundation and methodological approach

6.1 Overview: Study design

6.2 Survey method: expert interview

6.3 Selection and contacting of interview partners: sample

6.4 Execution of the interviews and description of the interview situation

6.5 Securing the results and identification of the key messages

6.6 Evaluation and discussion of the data

7 Conclusion

7.1 Structure of the thesis and results

7.2 Answering the research question

7.3 Points of criticism and limitations of the own work

7.4 Conclusion and further proposals for another research

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary aim of this thesis is to define universal criteria for enterprises to decide between a "Big bang" or a "dedicated" process migration strategy when switching from SAP ECC 620 to S/4HANA, providing a framework for IT consultants to analyze client situations.

• Migration strategies for S/4HANA (Greenfield, Brownfield, Landscape Transformation).
• Change management concepts, specifically Kotter’s eight phases and Eason’s implementation models.
• Decision-making factors in non-programmed ERP transitions.
• Qualitative expert analysis regarding project duration, business downtime, and functionality gaps.
• Development of a factor-based framework for consulting IT-migration projects.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: Defines the research objective of establishing criteria for choosing between Big bang and dedicated migration strategies during the transition to S/4HANA.

2 Theoretical Background: Provides the fundamental understanding of SAP SE, ERP system definitions, and the specific architecture of ECC 620 versus S/4HANA.

3 Three scenarios of a S/4HANA implementation: Details the three primary migration paths (Greenfield, Brownfield, Landscape Transformation) and critiques their application.

4 Change Management: Explores decision-making processes and Kotter’s eight-phase model for managing organizational transition during system changes.

5 Implementation Strategies: Introduces and evaluates different pacing strategies, focusing on the distinction between Big bang and dedicated implementation approaches.

6 Methodological foundation and methodological approach: Outlines the qualitative research design, including the selection of expert interviews and the criteria for evaluating the gathered data.

7 Conclusion: Synthesizes the theoretical and empirical findings to provide final recommendations and limitations regarding S/4HANA migration strategies.

Keywords

SAP, S/4HANA, ERP, Big bang implementation, dedicated implementation, migration strategy, change management, ECC 620, business downtime, process migration, IT consulting, digital transformation, data migration, enterprise software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core research question of this thesis?

The thesis investigates the criteria enterprises should use to decide between a "Big bang" or a "dedicated" process migration strategy when upgrading from SAP ECC 620 to S/4HANA.

Which implementation strategies are primarily analyzed?

The work focuses on the Big bang approach (immediate, single-step changeover) and the dedicated strategy (phased, incremental introduction of partial functionalities).

What are the main drivers for companies moving to S/4HANA?

Key drivers include the end of maintenance support for legacy SAP ERP products, the need for improved data analytics capabilities (In-memory technology), and the requirement for modernized digital business processes.

How does business downtime influence the choice of strategy?

Business downtime is a critical factor; companies with 24/7 operational requirements or those unable to afford production halts often favor dedicated, phased migrations to reduce risk.

What is the "initial dip phenomenon" mentioned in the work?

It refers to a common pattern in change management where organizational performance declines immediately following the implementation of a new system before stabilizing and reaching new heights.

How were the empirical findings gathered?

The author conducted seven qualitative expert interviews with IT consultants and managers experienced in SAP ERP transitions, analyzing their insights against theoretical hypotheses.

Why is high data quality emphasized for S/4HANA migrations?

S/4HANA requires high-quality data to function correctly due to its columnar database architecture and the necessity of mapping legacy data into significantly different structures.

Does a high level of system personalization lead to higher migration costs?

Yes, the research confirms that heavily customized (personalized) ECC systems incur higher costs because custom code and legacy modifications must be either retrieved, re-mapped, or re-engineered to meet S/4HANA standards.