/Unit6 by rapha Torres

Unit 6 Implementation, Upgrade, and System Maintenance with the SAP Solution Manager Unit Overview This unit focuses on the SAP Solution Manager and describes how it can be used in implementation and upgrade projects as well as in day-to-day production operation. The third lesson in this unit provides an outlook of the IT practices and IT scenarios. Based on potential business scenarios, SAP delivers IT scenarios with SAP NetWeaver ’04. These IT scenarios will be the reference point for the documentation, master guides, installation guides, and so on. IT scenarios are business-oriented, in the same way as customer requirements are business-oriented. A customer wants to integrate business partners. Using the IT scenario “Integration of Business Partners”, the customer can find out which steps need to be carried out, which SAP NetWeaver capabilities are required, and so on. n components of the current SAP NetWeaver release can be included in IT scenarios. Conversely, components can be included in n IT scenarios.

Unit Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to: ·

Explain how the SAP Solution Manager supports central activities in the individual implementation phases

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Explain how the SAP Solution Manager structures activities during implementation and production operation using roadmaps

Describe the business content contained in the SAP Solution Manager

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager tools can be used to implement an SAP solution successfully and efficiently

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager, as a central platform, supports the continuous management and optimization of a production SAP solution

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Explain the role of the SAP Solution Manager in the SAP service infrastructure

Describe how the SAP Solution Manager enables processes and systems to be monitored and analyzed

Define the function of the SAP Solution Manager as a central platform for internal and external Support Desk tasks

Explain the concept of IT scenarios

Describe what SAP means by "IT practices"

Assign the current SAP NetWeaver components to IT practices and scenarios

Unit Contents Lesson: SAP Solution Manager and its Use in Implementation Projects 247 Lesson: The SAP Solution Manager and Its Use in System Administration ...................................................................258 Lesson: The Path from a Component View to IT Practices and Scenarios ........................................................................269

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Lesson: SAP Solution Manager and its Use in Implementation Projects Lesson Overview This lesson describes the logic behind implementation processes and how the SAP Solution Manager can be used to carry out the key steps. The key phases of the implementation roadmap and the Business Blueprint and implementation phases are explained. The objective of the Business Blueprint phase is to create detailed documentation about the requirements of a company’s business processes. When the Business Blueprint is created, the SAP Solution Manager enables customers to analyze and map their project structure using predefined scenarios and/or customer-specific business processes and to document the relevant functional and technical requirements. The key focus of the implementation phase is the implementation of the requirements for the business processes on the basis of the Business Blueprint, in particular by configuring and testing the implemented solution. The SAP Solution Manager is a central platform for all mySAP Business Suite components for completing tasks such as configuration, testing, and documentation.

Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ·

Explain how the SAP Solution Manager supports central activities in the individual implementation phases

Explain how the SAP Solution Manager structures activities during implementation and production operation using roadmaps

Describe the business content contained in the SAP Solution Manager

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager tools can be used to implement an SAP solution successfully and efficiently

Business Example Your project team has been given the task of updating all existing SAP R/3 Enterprise applications (FI, CO, SD, MM, PP, and HR) and, at the same time, implementing all key CRM processes. You want to know how you can use the new SAP Solution Manager tools to implement these SAP solutions successfully and efficiently.

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Solution Management Solution Management developed the SAP Solution Manager to meet the following objectives and the current business needs of our customers: ·

How can we ensure the successful functional and technical implementation and the smooth production operation of core business processes?

How do we ensure the technical installation and operation of associated SAP solutions?

How do we enhance communication between the customer’s IT department and its business units, technical production units, participating partners, and SAP during implementation and while operating the business solution?

How does SAP assure continuous optimization of customer business solutions?

How does SAP ensure that customers always receive the best possible support for dealing with problems?

Continued proliferation of distributed systems and cross-system interdependent business processes calls for a new, efficient support infrastructure. The technical and business integration of such heterogeneous systems has never been more important and must be mastered perfectly. This also applies to Software Change Management, which comprises upgrade aspects for individual components and release strategy, as well as in-house development of and modifications to standard scenarios. Unexpected investments can be avoided and operating costs reduced to a minimum only if risks, which can occur during production operation, are minimized and the relevant solution management concepts are established at an early stage. Solution management is the strategy and the SAP Solution Manager the technical implementation of this strategy. The SAP Solution Manager is a new offering for the implementation, operation, and continuous optimization of business software solutions. The SAP Solution Manager runs as an integrated platform at the center of the customer’s solution landscape, from where it supports distributed systems in solution landscapes of all complexities (SAP and non-SAP components).

Overview of the SAP Solution Manager as a Central Platform The SAP Solution Manager is a central platform installed at the customer, on which the entire customer solution (both SAP and non-SAP components) can be mapped and documented. From one central location, the SAP Solution Manager provides access to design, configuration, and testing activities in the system components.

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The SAP Solution Manager supports process-oriented design, configuration, testing, and system monitoring activities during production operation in system landscapes of all complexities. This is the only platform that supports integrated business processes, from the design of the solution through its implementation, to ongoing system monitoring in a production solution landscape.

Figure 102: An Overview of the SAP Solution Manager

The SAP Solution Manager is shipped with different roles for the implementation and production operation areas. Team members can log on to the system in their role and with the authorizations assigned to them to process their specific tasks. The predefined SAP roles can be adapted to meet project-specific requirements.

From ASAP to the SAP Solution Manager: An Historical Roadmap You might know the SAP Solution Manager as the successor to the implementation strategy ASAP, whose focus was on support for SAP systems during implementation and upgrade projects. Since 2002, the SAP Solution Manager has taken over the functions provided by ASAP, while also assuming the tasks of a central monitoring and analysis for the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire component landscape. The SAP Solution Manager focuses on the entire life cycle of all components concerned and is strictly process-oriented.

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Figure 103: The SAP Solution Manager: An Historic Roadmap

SAP Solution Manager 2.1 featured landscape reporting and was equipped with process descriptions and documentation tools for implementation and upgrade projects. It also featured monitoring tools for proactive and reactive monitoring. Proactive monitoring includes EarlyWatch, collection of performance data, transmission of alerts to SAP, and so on. Reactive monitoring includes the integration of alert monitoring to identify problems as quickly as possible. SAP Solution Manager 3.1 brought customers an enhanced Support Desk, and with 3.2 came the option of managing transport system functions centrally in the SAP Solution Manager. SAP Solution Manager 3.2 also allows SAP NetWeaver components to be included monitoring with SAP Solution Manager diagnostics. This also includes the Java components of SAP NetWeaver solutions.

Using the SAP Solution Manager During Implementation The purpose of the SAP Solution Manager is to support you in all phases of your implementation project. These phases are based on the five phases in the implementation roadmap as used in the ASAP/VSAP methodology: Project Preparation → Business Blueprint → Implementation → Final Preparation → Go Live & Support.

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Figure 104: Main Focus: Implementation

The objectives of these five phases are as follows: ·

Project preparation: Definition of project and system landscape

Business Blueprint: Definition of the customer-specific solution on the basis of predefined scenarios from the Business Process Repository and/or business processes defined at the customer; documentation of the (functional and technical) requirements for business processes; creation of the Business Blueprint

Implementation: Configuration; distribution/synchronization of Customizing; checking consistency of Customizing; organization of test plans and performance of tests; problem tracking; elaboration of training materials

Final preparation: Training for end users and preparation of the production system

Go Live and support: Ongoing support and improvements following go live

The SAP Solution Manager is shipped with the latest available roadmaps. These contain the standard SAP implementation methods and cover the key aspects and phases of an SAP implementation and upgrade. A basic component of the roadmaps are the links to accelerators during the performance of individual tasks. Examples of these accelerators are white papers, sample documents, templates, procedures, Web Links, and links to transactions. A message handling system enables problems to be reported and tracked. End users, internal support employees, and external SAP support employees can use this system.

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In each project phase, you can gather information about the project status and the progress of activities such as Business Blueprint creation, configuration, and testing. Reporting functions support you in this.

Business Blueprint Definition The Business Blueprint enables you to document company business processes that you want to use in your customer-specific solution. First, create a project structure in which the relevant business scenarios, business processes, and processes steps are structured hierarchically. Next, create project documentation, which can be assigned to individual scenarios, processes, or process steps, to define the relevant functional and technical business requirements. Finally, assign each process transactions and define how the business processes are run in your SAP systems.

Figure 105: Business Blueprint Definition

When you create the Business Blueprint for your customer-specific project structure, you can use Business Content shipped by SAP. This content comprises business scenarios, processes, process steps, and associated documentation. Of course, you can also create your own content.

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You can also print out the Business Blueprint document and continue to use the defined project structure during configuration and the test organization: 路

When you configure your business processes, the system displays the project structure from the Business Blueprint. You can use the project structure of the Business Blueprint as a basis for configuration.

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You can display and edit the project documentation from the Business Blueprint phase during configuration.

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The project structure from the Business Blueprint is the basis for all test plans that you create during the test organization phase. The transactions that you assign in the Business Blueprint process steps are included in test plans when you generate these and can be processed as function tests to test the relevant transactions.

Business Process Repository (BPR): Overview When you create a Business Blueprint, you choose the preconfigured business processes that you want to implement. The relevant Business Process Repository content is provided according to the number of scenarios.

Figure 106: SAP Solution Manager: The Business Process Repository

With the Business Process Repository, the SAP Solution Manager provides central access to the list of predefined business scenarios that serve as a starting point for defining the scope of the project to be implemented. In the Business Blueprint phase, you choose the business processes that are to be part of your implementation or upgrade project or define your own customer-specific business processes.

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The Business Process Repository is a collection of reusable, predefined business process information. It contains: ·

Scenario documentation

Transaction assignments

IMG assignments

Business scenario configuration guides

Preconfigured processes provided in BC Sets

Predefined test cases

The content of the Business Process Repository can vary from scenario to scenario. Note: The latest Business Process Repository content can be downloaded from SAP Service Marketplace at http://service.sap.com/solutionmanager.

Implementation: Process-Oriented Configuration At the end of the Business Blueprint phase, the implementation phase begins. The objective of this individual project segment is to configure and test in the system the processes that were elaborated upon in the Business Blueprint phase. The SAP Solution Manager enables process-oriented instead of component-oriented configuration and testing on the basis of the project structure defined in the Business Blueprint phase. Moreover, all associated documentation, such as configuration information and test cases, can be added and saved in the project structure together with the relevant process.

Figure 107: Process-Oriented Configuration in the Implementation Phase

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From the SAP Solution Manager, you can navigate to the different system components for configuration and test purposes. If you use objects from the Business Process Repository in your structures, these objects may already be assigned to transactions and BC Sets. If you create structures without objects from the Business Object Repository, you can make the following assignments yourself: ·

Transactions in transaction SOLAR01 - BUSINESS BLUEPRINT

BC Sets, IMG objects, and test cases in transaction SOLAR02 KONFIGURATION

Customizing Distribution – Typical Scenarios In a distributed solution landscape, selected Customizing settings must generally be maintained synchronously in different systems. Using Customizing Distribution, synchronize the Customizing settings in a source system (for example, SAP R/3 Enterprise) with the Customizing settings in the target systems (for example, an SAP CRM system). Examples of IMG settings that you may have to synchronize include sales master data and organizational objects such as partner roles, credit functions, company code, sales organization, division, and so on. In R/3 Enterprise and CRM, for example, these must be identical for transactions and reports.

Figure 108: Customizing: Distribution Options and Variants

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Customizing Distribution enables efficient and consistent configuration in different systems. This function is extremely important for global implementations for which general business processes must be implemented in several SAP systems. A good example is FI processes, since many customers implement global FI processes to enable general valid reporting processes. The following lists examples of scenarios for using Customizing Distribution. Each of these scenarios defines which objects have to be synchronized and when. ·

Challenges and implementation scenarios –

Customizing for specific objects should be the same for all systems

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Current Customizing settings (for example, in SAP R/3 Enterprise) should be reused in other systems (for example, CRM)

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Redundant Customizing activities within a solution landscape (for example, with ALE scenarios) should be avoided

Distribution scenarios –

Rapid initial configuration of new development systems

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Download selected Customizing settings from an SAP system (R/3 Enterprise) to a newly installed SAP system (APO)

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Synchronize Customizing settings in an SAP system (R/3 Enterprise) and an SAP system (CRM) because some of the business processes run in both SAP R/3 Enterprise and SAP CRM

Time of distribution –

Delta Customizing · Distribution during Customizing for transport recording · Distribution during transport release · Periodic distribution · Manual distribution

–

Initial Customizing · Rapid initial configuration from an SAP R/3 Enterprise system to a new development system

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Lesson Summary You should now be able to: ·

Explain how the SAP Solution Manager supports central activities in the individual implementation phases

Explain how the SAP Solution Manager structures activities during implementation and production operation using roadmaps

Describe the business content contained in the SAP Solution Manager

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager tools can be used to implement an SAP solution successfully and efficiently

Related Information ·

For more information about SAP Solution Management, see http://service.sap.com/solutionmanagement and http://service.sap.com/solutionmanager.

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Lesson: The SAP Solution Manager and Its Use in System Administration Lesson Overview This lesson provides an introduction to the functions of the SAP Solution Manager, which can be used to manage, support, and optimize the production environment.

Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ·

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager, as a central platform, supports the continuous management and optimization of a production SAP solution

Explain the role of the SAP Solution Manager in the SAP service infrastructure

Describe how the SAP Solution Manager enables processes and systems to be monitored and analyzed

Define the function of the SAP Solution Manager as a central platform for internal and external Support Desk tasks

Business Example Your project team has finished implementing your customer-specific solution and you are in production operation. You want to know how the SAP Solution Manager can support you during the ongoing maintenance and optimization of your production landscape.

Using the SAP Solution Manager in Production Operation The SAP Solution Manager is the recommended platform for the provision of all services and support that are rendered between the customer and SAP as part of the maintenance agreement. In the SAP Solution Manager, the production environment is managed from the perspective of a solution environment and not from a component perspective; several landscapes can be managed at the same time.

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Figure 109: Customer Solution Landscapes

Several systems can be grouped into solution landscapes and access to these landscapes can be restricted. To receive services or for additional support from SAP Active Global Support experts, you can open an SAP remote connection.

Figure 110: Focus: Production Operation

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The technical and organizational infrastructure of the SAP Solution Manager comprises the following components: ·

Services for production operation In the production operation area, customers can access a range of SAP support services and leverage the particular services they require. These services include remote services, onsite services, self-services, and best practice documents. Recommendations for these services are automatically provided on the basis of the solution configuration. The production operation area provides an overview of all customer-specific service recommendations. The results of the services are available in the form of clearly-structured reports that are archived in this area. The reports stored in the SAP Solution Manager are extremely useful documents and serve as a future reference for efficient operation of SAP solution landscapes. The preventive and proactive services from SAP cover the entire life cycle of the solution. Feasibility studies analyze integration, operation, and risk management to ensure seamless implementation and smooth operation. The SAP GoingLive Check provides support for technical implementation and checks production startup. SAP EarlyWatch ensures uninterrupted operation and continuous optimization of customers’ SAP solutions.

Solution monitoring – SAP Solution Monitoring includes system monitoring, business process monitoring, and service level management for the entire SAP solution. Core business processes are tracked across different systems and interfaces. A graphical representation of the solution landscape shows alarms that indicate exactly where a problem has occurred. With just one mouse click, support employees can access information about the problem and call up troubleshooting tips and services. They therefore receive the help and valuable information they require to handle critical software and operation problems.

Support – In the support area, the SAP Solution Manager provides a comprehensive infrastructure for setting up and operating a customer support organization for the entire solution landscape. It enables messages to be processed and provides access to the SAP Notes database and additional information on the SAP Service Marketplace. This area contains support tools such as the SAP Note Assistant, an enhancement to the SAProuter, and Microsoft NetMeeting. This means that user, customer help desk, and SAP support applications can be integrated. The Support Desk allows efficient application support across the entire SAP solution landscape – from the end user to the internal support organization and, if necessary, to SAP.

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SAP Solution Management: Service Infrastructure The SAP Solution Manager combines all aspects of the SAP service and support offerings (services, message processing, tools, information, and so on) in one portal. It is a central platform for the provision of services and information and offers the possibility of collaboration, which is indispensable for efficient and effective support of the customer’s solution landscape.

Figure 111: Service Infrastructure

Part of the SAP Solution Management infrastructure is the SAP Service Marketplace. This infrastructure can be used in various ways:

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Self-services: The customer’s staff uses SAP’s proven technology and expertise to find the services they require.

Remote services: SAP Support logs on to the customer’s Solution Manager to carry out a remote diagnosis or remote maintenance for the customer system.

Onsite services: SAP Support or external users use the SAP Solution Manager to provide services onsite. Instead of having to collect the same data each time, they use the information stored in the SAP Solution Manager.

Search for information or services: The search for information can be complex and complicated, especially if the result depends on many factors. When you access the SAP Solution Manager on the SAP Service Marketplace, you are automatically directed to the information that matches the data profile created for you by the SAP Solution Manager. Information that is not relevant for your situation is not displayed.

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Solution Monitoring In a distributed system landscape with many different components (R/3 Enterprise, CRM, ITS, 3third-party, PLM, and so on) and processes that run across different components, monitoring must not mean that a system administrator has to log on to each of the different components. Many of the new components also have their own administration and monitoring tools, which results in exploding implementation, production operation, and training costs. SAP Solution Monitoring, as a new view of the distributed landscapes, means that monitoring is possible via a single entry point. Solution Monitoring also always provides a remote connection to SAP Active Global Support.

Figure 112: The New Solution Monitoring Concept

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Solution Monitoring is ·

A proactive approach

Business-process oriented

Geared to solution landscapes

Configurable

Linked with analysis and administration tools for experts

Open and upgradeable (covers SAP R/3 Enterprise and other SAP components)

Linked with SAP service offerings (EarlyWatch services, optimization services, self-services)

The monitoring area comprises the following elements: ·

Alert monitoring: Ensures “smooth operation” (timeline: hourly, daily) –

System monitoring

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Business process monitoring

Service level management and reporting: Continuous optimization, task planning (timeline: weekly, monthly) –

Service Level Reporting

The objectives of Solution Monitoring are: –

Identification of critical situations in good time

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Quick response and troubleshooting by the customer’s support organization

Enhanced Monitoring Functions Core business processes are tracked across different systems and interfaces. System monitoring alarms are displayed at software-component level. A graphical representation of the solution landscape shows alarms that indicate exactly where a problem has occurred. To call an alarm overview, you simply choose the alarm icon. From the graphical user interface, you can go to the remote system by means of remote function call (RFC) and start an analysis in this system. Support employees can then access detailed information about the problem and call up troubleshooting tips and services. They therefore receive the help and valuable information they require to handle critical software and operation problems.

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Figure 113: Enhanced Monitoring Functions

Examples of monitoring operations and alarms: ·

R/3 background jobs –

Start delay/end delay/maximum processing time exceeded

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Job terminated

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Parallel processing contains errors

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Job log messages

Transaction performance (as of SAP R/3 4.6) –

Average dialog response time

Update errors in transactions and programs

Application log messages

Worklist log messages for deliveries and billing documents

Real-time system monitoring and central system administration are two complimentary work areas that can be controlled from the graphical display in the SAP Solution Manager. You can carry out administrative tasks (for example, transaction SU01: User Maintenance) for your systems centrally.

The Support Process The SAP Solution Manager enables collaboration between end users, internal support, and SAP support for troubleshooting in the system. The Support Desk reduces the solution management costs by setting up an efficient internal and external support organization.

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All SAP users can contact their support unit directly from their normal working environment. Users in satellite systems can send problem messages to the central SAP Solution Manager system. These messages then appear in the SAP Solution Manager message portal. Relevant system information, such as the transaction code and Support Package level, is copied to the message automatically. The internal support team can access a fully-integrated system for message processing that contains many functions for troubleshooting.

Figure 114: Support Process

Support employees have access to this data and tools such as:

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SAP Notes search

SAP Note Assistant

Workflow and e-mail notifications

Microsoft NetMeeting for the shared use of applications

Interface to SAP Service Marketplace. In the case of several problems, messages and all relevant data can be forwarded to SAP Active Global Support automatically. The confirmed information can then be returned directly to the customer’s SAP system.

SAP has enhanced the SAProuter interface so that Support Desk and SAP Active Global Support employees can view users’ screens. Checking the local user interface or front-end installation is one method of troubleshooting, for example, to test an application directly from a specific client.

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Support Desk – Functions: ·

Internal processing of problem messages at the customer –

Creation of messages in the user’s working environment

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Automatic creation of system and context data

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Interface for messages from non-SAP systems

Efficient administration of SAP Notes –

Integrated search for SAP Notes via the SAP Service Marketplace

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Automatic implementation of SAP Notes using the SAP Note Assistant

Customer solution database –

Solution database created by customer

SAP support integration –

Sending of problem messages to SAP

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Receipt of status update and solution in the Support Desk

SAP remote support integration –

Microsoft NetMeeting for shared use of applications by end users, internal Support Desk employees, and SAP back-office experts

Basis configuration of the Support Desk in the SAP Solution Manager under SAP Web Application Server 6.20: ·

Create problem messages

Search for SAP Notes

Send error messages to SAP

Receive answer from SAP

Implement SAP Notes using the SAP Note Assistant

Basis functions that can be used immediately

SAP Solution Manager Diagnostics With Solution Manager diagnostics, SAP now also delivers its own toolset for monitoring the Java components in the different solutions and components. Solution Manager diagnostics provides functions that SAP and customers can use to analyze the cause of problems in solutions based on SAP NetWeaver. In particular, it contains functions for monitoring Java-based SAP NetWeaver components. Solution Manager diagnostics is part of SAP Solution Manager 4.0, but can be installed on SAP Web AS 6.40 in advance.

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Figure 115: Solution Manager diagnostics: Overview

As of SAP NetWeaver Support Package 11, customers can use Solution Manager diagnostics. You can execute the functions of Solution Manager diagnostics in a standard Web browser.

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Lesson Summary You should now be able to: ·

Outline how the SAP Solution Manager, as a central platform, supports the continuous management and optimization of a production SAP solution

Explain the role of the SAP Solution Manager in the SAP service infrastructure

Describe how the SAP Solution Manager enables processes and systems to be monitored and analyzed

Define the function of the SAP Solution Manager as a central platform for internal and external Support Desk tasks

Related Information ·

The following is a list of the courses for the operation area, as of June 2005. The quick link is /solutionmanager, subdirectory Training.

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USMP10 – SAP Solution Manager Positioning

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USMI20 – Technical Configuration of SAP Solution Manager Infrastructure

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USMA30 – System Administration with SAP Solution Manager

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USCP60 – Business Process Management and Monitoring

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USMF50 – Support Desk Implementation

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USMF55 – Request Management with SAP Solution Manager

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ADM 106 – Advanced SAP System Monitoring

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Lesson: The Path from a Component View to IT Practices and Scenarios

Lesson: The Path from a Component View to IT Practices and Scenarios Lesson Overview This lesson will provide customers an overview of the planned transition from a component view to an IT scenario view. IT practices and scenarios will provide a structuring mechanism in SAP NetWeaver ’04, whose ramp-up ends in May 2006.

Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ·

Explain the concept of IT scenarios

Describe what SAP means by "IT practices"

Assign the current SAP NetWeaver components to IT practices and scenarios

Business Example You want to implement the following business processes in your company: ·

You want to create a sales portal that displays current critical figures, calculated on the basis of SAP BW analyses.

You want to know about the duplicates in your master data, use this information in evaluations, and maintain the master data more centrally.

You want to integrate suppliers in your system landscape who you have selected to develop a new product more quickly than at present (data exchange, central communication).

You know that you have to use different capabilities of SAP NetWeaver for these scenarios and would like to know at the push of a button which components these are, based on one of the scenarios.

IT Scenarios Versus Features and Functions: An Overview

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Figure 116: SAP NetWeaver Components

The Business Example for this lesson describes some of a customer’s wishes from a general business perspective. These wishes and requirements express business scenarios: ·

An up-to-date sales portal with up-to-date critical figures calculated on the basis of SAP BW analyses

Intelligent master data maintenance and information about duplicates in SAP BW analyses

Quick integration of new suppliers

These business scenarios contains different numbers of components to varying degrees. SAP aims to provide this information on the basis of IT scenarios in future releases. In this context, there is an analogy between SAP NetWeaver components and “IT practices”, which address customer wishes directly in the current IT landscape.

Figure 117: SAP NetWeaver Components and IT Practices

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Lesson: The Path from a Component View to IT Practices and Scenarios

IT practices comprise IT scenarios. The IT practice End-to-End Process Integration, for example, currently consists of the following IT scenarios: ·

Enabling Application-to-Application Processes

Enabling Business-to-Business Processes

Business Process Management

Enabling Platform Interoperability

Business Task Management

The figure below illustrates how IT scenarios are currently assigned to IT practices.

Figure 118: Overview of IT Scenarios: Status June 2005

IT scenarios can exist in different variants. The IT scenario Business Task Management, for example, is currently available in two variants: Central Access to Tasks and Support for Offline Processes. A scenario variant is described in a sequence of processes that, in turn, consist of process steps.

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Figure 119: Basic Concepts

Within the process steps, reference is then made to the actual functions within a specific component.

Figure 120: IT Scenarios and Usage Types

Our current components will then be renamed as usage types.

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Figure 121: Usages Types Versus SAP NetWeaver Components

The objective of the IT scenarios is to provide support to customers and partners the installation and production operation of SAP NetWeaver, and to use solutions that contain core and customer-specific functions as well as composite application functions. Another objective of an IT scenario can be to implement an IT concept, such as the transition from a customer-specific IT landscape to a service-oriented architecture. The process-oriented approach consolidates different areas from the general communication area (product positioning, documentation, and training) through implementation (for example, technology-map-based analysis and a configuration based on the SAP Solution Manager) to business activities and production operation, and, for example, the ESA Architecture.

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Lesson Summary You should now be able to:

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Explain the concept of IT scenarios

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Describe what SAP means by "IT practices"

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Assign the current SAP NetWeaver components to IT practices and scenarios

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Unit Summary

Unit Summary You should now be able to: