For those who wished to know the role of a functinal consultant. Below
is one view:
A functional consultant evaluates the demands in talking with the customer's
representatives, transforms the essence into an abstract and algorithmic
business model. Hence, he identifies the use cases and transforms them into
logical and technical views.
Then the main task starts: customizing the respective business area and
making sure the system reacts in the manner according to the constraints of the
requested use case.
The consultant documents the settings and prepares proper guidelines that
allow other consultants to do further changes or repairs with due efforts.
The consultant takes care that proper training is given to the users and that
the system is usable, performing appropriately and the business flow is complete
and correct.
During go live he assists the technical staff by testing the behaviour of the
system.
After go live he guarantees that the procedures remain usable and consistent
in real live situation and proposes enhancements.
The main duty of a consultant is to transfer external know-how to the client.
It is not manpower that counts but intelligence, understanding of processes, a
feeling for defects and general a common sense.
Role of a Functional Consultant in an End
To End Implementation
When you talk about the role of a Functional consultant in an end to end
implementation, I think it won't be possible for me or anybody to define
everything but I will try to summarize it:
1. Functional consultant is expected to generate knowledge about the current
business process, design current business flows, study current business
processes and its complication, in all we can say getting through with current
business setup. Flow diagrams and DFD are prepared, most of the time in Vision
format, all this forms the part of AS IS document.
2. Everything configured has to be documented as per their categories in the
form of predefined templates, these have to be then approved by the team leads
or who ever the consultant is reporting to.
3. Mapping and GAP analysis is done for each module, I have seen people
defining integration after mapping, gap analysis and configuration is done, but
as per my experience in implementation, it is a simultaneous process.
4. Before starting configuring future business processes in SAP, the
DFD/ERD are prepared, this documentation is called TO BE, which can be also siad
as the result of mapping and gap analysis.
5. Sometimes Functional consultants are also expected to prepare test scripts
for testing the configured scenarios.
6. End user manual and user training is also expected from F.Consultants.
The project normally starts off with a Kick off meeting in which the
team size, team members, reporting system, responsibilities, duties, methodlogy,
dates and schedules, working hours which have been predicided are formally
defined.
ASAP, it won't be possible for me to explain it here, but all I can tell you
about it is that it is SAP standard implementation methodology, which SAP
prescribes but is not mandatory for any company to follow, such as IBM follow
some blue Methodlogy, some companies follow typical SDLC steps, ASAP stands for
Accerlated SAP, you can find all the steps on SAP site, through google, reading
it from there won't give you a great knowledge about ASAP but will obviously get
you to know the definitions of various term.
Role of SAP Consultant In Testing
1. What is the role of SD Consultant in Testing while implementing
the project? 2. What is Unit testing and Integration Testing?
Unit testing is refer to the module which are going to implement. SD, MM,
FICO etc. there will be test script based on that testing will be performed.
Integration testing will be cross the modules. MM-SD-FICO for example.
Integration testing is also called SIT ( System integration testing)
Testing mathologies and types: there are 6 types of testings:
1. Unit Testing
2. System Testing
3. System Integration security Testing
4. Performance Testing
5. User Acceptance testing
6. Regression Testing
Unit testing is done in bit and pieces. Like e.g. in SD standard order cycle;
we do have 1-create order, then 2-delivery, then 3-transfer order, then 4-PGI
and then 5-Invoice. So we will be testing 1,2,3,4 and 5 seperately alone
one by one using test cases and test data. We will not be looking and
checking/testing any integration between order and delivery; delivery and TO; TO
and PGI and then invoice.
Whrereas System testing you will be testing the full cycle with it's
integration, and you will be testing using test cases which give a full cyclic
test from order to invoice.
Security testing you will be testing different roles and functionalities and
will check and signoff.
Performance testing is refered to as how much time / second will take to
perform some actions, like e.g. PGI. If BPP defination says 5 seconds for
PGI then it should be 5 and not 6 second. Usually it is done using
software.
Regression testing is reffered to a test which verfies that some new
configuration doesnot adversly impact existing functionality. This will be
done on each phase of testing.
User Acceptance Testing: Refers to Customer testing. The UAT will be
performed through the execution of predefined business scenarios, which combine
various business processes. The user test model is comprised of a sub-set of
system integration test cases.
We use different software during testing. Most commonly use are
Test Director: which is used to record requirement, preparing test plan
and then recording the progress. We will be incorporating defects that are
coming during these testings using different test cases.
Mercury Load Runner: is used for performance testing. This is an
automatic tool.
The top ten IT skills to have for the next
few years
This is not a scientific survey, but merely the opinions of a few agents that
we asked. If you have a highly valued skill that isn't on here, don't worry,
this is not definitive, but merely the opinions of a few agents.� I'm sure if
we'd polled others the list might have been slightly different.
Skills on the Up We polled a number of agents and other sources of
information and came up with the following skills that are likely to be on the
up over the next few years. Anyone with these skills is likely to be employed,
at good rates, even taking into account offshore outsourcing and Fast Track Visa
Workers.
1. J2EE 2. .Net 3. C# 4. Project Management 5. Oracle 8 and
9i 6. SAP 7. Business Analysis 8. VB.net 9. NT Novell 10.
Java
New Hot Skills The top three are definitely becoming very hot
skills.
It's good to see Project Management up there. It is a much underrated skill.
Business Analysts are also less immune to offshore outsourcing, as they have
to remain reasonably close to the business users.
SAP continues to do well and is taking market share
from its rivals.
Siebel also gained an honourable mention.
Oracle continues to be very strong, and is also expected to gain even more
market share in the coming years.
Honourable Mentions Other skills that also received honourable
mention for the future are some of those from before the downturn such as:-
SQL Unix C++ VB Access ASP
In fact SQL, Unix and C++ are still the most sought after skills currently,
and anyone who has them should stand in good stead.
Those where you might find it a bit of a struggle in the next few years are
the skills from before the previous downturn like Cobol, CICS, DB2 etc.
There is still quite a lively market for PL/I though.
As I said at the start, this is not a definitive list, but we thought it
would be worthwhile to pass on what agents believe to be the skills that they
think they will be looking for more and more in the next few years.
Mini SAP System Requirement and How to Get
it
Mini SAP System Requirement
The system Requirements are :
General Requirements Operating System: Windows 2000 (Service Pack2�
or higher); Windows XP (Home or Professional); Windows NT Linux
Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher At least 192 MB RAM� (recommended to
have 256 MB of RAM) At least 512 MB paging file At least 3.2 GB disk
space (recommended to have 6 GB hard disk drive space) (120 MB DB software,
2.9 GB SAP data, 100 MB SAP GUI + temporary free space for the installation)
The file� C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\services (Windows 2000) or
C:\Windows\system\32\drivers\etc\services (Windows XP)� must not include an
entry for port 3600. A possible entry can be excluded by using the symbol
'#'. No SAPDB must be installed on your PC. The hostname of the PC must
not be longer than 13 characters. The Network must be configured for
installation and the MS Loopback Adapter must be configured when you start
the system without a network connection!
Special Requirements for Installations on Windows XP In the� file
C:\Windows\system\32\drivers\etc\hosts the current IP address and the host name
must be defined as <IP address><Host name> Open the network
connectivity definition with start->control panel->network connections for
defining the network connection. Select� ->extended-> allow other users in
network. Activate new configurations. Select remote desktop within extended
configuration menu.
*********
How to get Mini SAP?
In order to get the free Mini SAP, you need to buy the following book where
in you will get two CD's of SAP WAS 6.10 (Web Application Server) which can be
installed in your system and practice ABAP programming etc...
