RE: SAP

["Chuck Lewis" <clewis@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Oh, I agree with you completely Mike and you bring back some forgotten
thoughts :-) We got a coupon package for McDonald's or taken out to dinner.
I can't remember which was BPCS and the CISC to RISC conversion :-)

And that was/is one of the BIGGEST concerns with packaged software - mods...
Our decision on BPCS was NO MODS unless absolutely necessary so that
upgrades could be done with the least hassle. That made for some interesting
"conversations". Of course that was right around the time of SSA's ill-timed
Client/Server foray and we never upgraded and they still haven't (5 years
now...).

Ironically the Assistant Controller there quit a couple of years after all
of that (he was a MAJOR player in getting everyone organized, etc.) for a
better job opportunity (CFO) and about a year latter came after me. So we
are here together. We did a UNIX to AS/400 homegrown to package deal here
and things are MUCH better. We inherited it all from a CFO that got ticked
with the owners and quit ("I'll hold my breath..." he was also the main IT
guy, coder, etc.) and the bozo that was left in IT was literally a "chair
warmer" and I'm a nice guy ! That was for Y2K.

And all I have ever heard, read, etc. is that SAP installation is a money
PIT; whether it eventually comes out OK or not...

I'm checking around with some of my sources to try and find you some other
large companies running SAP on iSeries.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Mike.Crump@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 10:45 AM
To: Non-Technical Discussion about the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: SAP


Chuck,

I thought I would try this first and see the responses.....I try to be a
really good citizen with Midrange-L.......but this is legitimate.

Your situation wasn't probably not much different than ours.  We have
issues with our homegrown system that SAP can address.......in the long run
it will probably be the best but will it ROI?  According to some
analysts....over 50% of the SAP projects don't generate a positive ROI.
Will it be disruptive?  Definitely.  Is this company at risk of not
managing the project properly?  Yes.

When discussing things like SAP or another ERP system I always have a few
concerns:

1.)  with home grown software the company has received what they have paid
for.  Think what you could do with an infusion of cash and effort.......

2.)  despite being flexible I still think of packaged software as being
concrete ware.....

      A.  If the software doesn't do what we want....what is to be
done....not do it, modify it, wait, etc.
      B.  Our customers demands for modifications now become one voice in
ten's of thousands.....

3.)  I've been through a number of major conversions....long nights,
weekends, double duties, etc.  Not to sound greedy but let me recall what
I've received for going above and beyond the call of duty.....oh yes, a pat
on the back from the CEO at the Christmas party and the dinner
certificate......  :-)

Not that I want to start another whole thread.....your advice is well
taken...I'm just going to make sure I go in with as much knowledge as
possible......






 

                      Chuck Lewis

                      <clewis@xxxxxxxxx        To:       Non-Technical
Discussion about the AS400 /        
                      t>                        iSeries
<midrange-nontech@xxxxxxxxxxxx>                    
                                               cc:

                      12/02/03 10:27 AM        bcc:

                      Please respond to        Subject:  RE: SAP

                      Non-Technical

                      Discussion about

                      the AS400 /

                      iSeries

 

 




Mike,

I'd seriously consider posting this to Midrange-L and Ignite/400 !

And good luck. I was in a similar situation years ago at a place that was
going from home grown to BPCS. As you well know, no matter how you feel,
you
have to tread carefully and size up all the players internally so as not to
be perceived in a negative light. Not a fun "game". I had no doubt that we
had outgrown our internally developed system, but it got to the point that
any questioning of BPCS (and this was before the decision was even made)
was
not well received because of some BPCS bigot that had been hired...

Chuck








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