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

Table of Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Research focus
• Methodology
• Theoretical Background
• SAP
• ERP
• SAP ERP ECC 620
• SAP S/4HANA
• Three scenarios of a S/4HANA implementation
• Greenfield approach
• Brownfield approach
• Landscape transformation
• Critique
• Change Management
• Decision-making
• Digital Change
• The change process by Kotter
• Critique
• Implementation Strategies
• Big bang implementation
• Dedicated implementation
• B: Empirical Part
• Methodological foundation and methodological approach
• Overview: Study design
• Survey method: expert interview
• Selection and contacting of interview partners: sample
• Execution of the interviews and description of the interview situation
• Securing the results and identification of the key messages
• Evaluation and discussion of the data
• Conclusion
• Structure of the thesis and results
• Answering the research question
• Points of criticism and limitations of the own work
• Conclusion and further proposals for another research
• References
• Appendix

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis aims to establish criteria for enterprises to decide between a big bang or a dedicated process migration when switching from SAP ECC 620 to S/4HANA. It comprehensively analyzes the scope of this transition, considering perspectives from both the software implementer and the user. The work focuses on creating a factor inventory that serves as a framework for developing a questionnaire for consultants advising companies facing this transition. Specifically, it aims to provide Actum Consulting Products GmbH with an inventory that delineates the importance of each factor and a framework for creating a questionnaire to analyze client situations.

• Decision-making criteria for Big bang vs. dedicated process migration in SAP S/4HANA transition.
• Analysis of SAP S/4HANA implementation scenarios (Greenfield, Brownfield, Landscape Transformation).
• Critical evaluation of change management models and implementation strategies.
• Exploration of the impact of personalization, business continuity, and functional congruency on implementation choices.
• Development of a framework for a questionnaire to guide consultants in advising clients.

Chapter Summaries

The introduction establishes the research question and objectives of the thesis. The focus lies on identifying criteria for choosing between big bang or dedicated process migration for SAP S/4HANA transition. The theoretical background provides an overview of SAP, ERP systems, SAP ECC 620, and SAP S/4HANA. It discusses the three scenarios for S/4HANA implementation: Greenfield, Brownfield, and Landscape Transformation, with critical analysis of each approach. The chapter on change management explores decision-making processes, digital change, and Kotter's change process, including a critique and a discussion of Eason's implementation strategies. The final theoretical chapter delves into the characteristics of both big bang and dedicated implementation strategies, outlining their advantages and disadvantages.

Keywords

The main keywords of this thesis are: SAP S/4HANA, ERP system, change management, implementation strategies, Big bang implementation, dedicated implementation, Greenfield, Brownfield, Landscape Transformation, decision-making criteria, factor inventory, and questionnaire development.