1. What is ASAP?

ASAP (Accelerated SAP) is a methodology used in SAP for faster and cost-effective
implementation of SAP R/3 projects. ASAP helps to
(a) reduce the implementation time,
(b)achieve quality implementations,
(c) make effective and efficient use of project resources.
ASAP integrates the following three components:
1. ASAP Roadmap
2. Tools (Questionnaires, templates, etc.)
3. R/3 services and training (Hotline, Early Watch, Remote Upgrade, Archiving, etc.)
ASAP Roadmap is aimed at providing step-by-step direction and guidance throughout the
project implementation by providing a process-oriented, clear and concise project plan. The
roadmap meanders through the following milestones or phases in the project implementation
lifecycle:
1. Project preparation
2. Business blueprint
3. Realization
4. Final preparation
5. Go-live, support, and continuous improvement

2. Explain ASAP Road map Phases?

Project preparation is the first and initial phase of the ASAP roadmap where you are just
starting
the project. You will perform activities such as preparation of the initial scope, high-level
timelines and plans, project charters, identification of project team members, project kick-off,
etc. Business blueprint is the second phase in the implementation where you will try, identify,
and document business requirements and goals to prepare the foundation for future stages
of the project. Ideally, you will organize business requirement gathering workshops with the
various business/functional users of the company, lead them through the discussion with
structured business functionality questionnaires, understand their existing business
processes, and identify and document their requirements in the wake of this new
implementation. A sign-off at the end of the phase ensures an agreement to move forward
outlining the scope of the project. It is understood that whatever is explicitly stated in the
business blueprint document is the only scope; no implied scope will be considered for
system configuration in the next phase.
Realization is the third phase where the implementing team breaks down the business
processes identified in the second phase and configures the SAP settings. Initially, you will
do a
Baseline Configuration, test the system functionality and if necessary make changes to the
baseline configuration, and close the phase with Final Configuration, signalling that all the
business processes have been captured and configured in the system.
Final Preparation is the penultimate phase in the project. This phase also serves to resolve
all

crucial open issues. A go-live check is also conducted to analyze whether the system has
been
properly configured.
This phase is marked by the following activities:
1.
End-to-testing of the configured system (User Acceptance TestUAT)
2.

Training of the end users (Usually follows the concept Train-the-Trainer)

System management activities (creation of users, user profiles, allocation of roles

to profiles, etc.)
3.
4.

Cut-over (data migration activities)

An internal help desk should be staffed and supported mainly by employees of the
enterprise.
Setting up a help desk involves, among other things, installing office and technical
equipment and defining OSS users. Problems that cannot be solved by this internal help
desk are forwarded to SAP via the SAPNet/OSS system.
On successful completion of this phase, you are ready to run your business in your
production
system. Go-Live and Support is the final and fifth phase of the project where the configured
system is declared live for day-to-day business use. Users make productive (live) business
transactions in the system and all the issues cropping up in the wake of going live are
supported and resolved by a support team immediately.

3. List the Tools for the Project Preparation Phase of

ASAP?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

ASAP Roadmap
Knowledge Corner
ASAP MS-Project Plan
C-Maps (Collaborative Business Maps)
Quick sizer
Pre-Configured Solutions (Connect-and-Go, Smart Implementations, etc.)
SAP Service Market Place

4. List the Tools for Business Case Development in

ASAP?
1) E-Business Case Builder

2) C-Maps

5. List the Tools for Project Management and

Methodology in ASAP?
1) Solution Manager
2) SAP Service Market Place

3) ASAP MS-Project Plan

4) ASAP Roadmap
5) ASAP Question and Answer Database
6) ASAP Business Blueprint
7) ASAP BPP (Business Process and Procedures Document)
8) ASAP BPML (Business Process Master List)
9) ASAP Issue Database
10) ASAP Implementation Assistant/Knowledge Corner

6. When do You Use the ASAP BPML Tool?

The ASAP Business Process Master List (BPML) is used during the Realization (third
phase)
of the ASAP Roadmap.

7. Explain Hardware Sizing for a SAP

Implementation?
ASAP provides a tool called Quicksizer, which is used to analyze the hardware requirements
(of
mySAP.com) and to arrive at the hardware sizing for the project based on your inputs to a list
of
questions. The tool is Web-based to make mySAP.com faster and easier. The Quicksizer
has
been developed by SAP in close cooperation with all platform partners and is free. The
Quicksizer calculates CPU, disk, and memory resources based on throughput numbers and
the
number of users working with the different SAP components. The tool gives customers (and
prospects) an idea of the system size requirements for running the proposed workload, and
is
also useful for initial budget planning. Initially used during the Project Preparation and
Blue printing Phases, and anytime after these phases when there is a change in system
requirements, the tool helps in arriving at the recommendations for hardware deployment.

8. Explain ASAP BPML?

ASAP BPMLs (Business Process Master Lists) are MS-Excel Sheets generated by the
ASAP
Q&A Database for facilitating configuration and testing of the system, and development of
end user documentation. These lists become the central repository from which you build the
individual master lists to manage the initial configuration, final configuration, final end-user
integration testing, and any other end-user procedures including the documentation.

9. What are BPPs in ASAP?

ASAP BPP (Business Process and Procedures) are templates that typically walk you
through

a transaction in SAP and help you document them. The templates are replete with Best
Practices or Standard Procedures for completing a particular transaction, which you can
customize for end user training. You will assign ASAP BPPS to the ASAP BPML.

10. Explain C-Maps?

C-Maps or C-Business Maps (Collaborative Business Maps) represent a comprehensive
portfolio of industry-specific and cross-industry process blueprints that show you how the
mySAP.com e-business platform can help your business. These maps define the activities,
roles, system interfaces, and business documents required for inter-enterprise collaboration.
They also show which SAP Solutions and Services you need to make your organization a
truly collaborative e-business.
C-Business Maps explain what happens when you deploy e-business solutions to integrate
existing resources and transcend the borders of individual enterprises. They give you a
complete picture of the benefits and advantages of collaborative business processes.

11. What is the Advantage of SAPs Smart

Implementations?
Smart Implementations contain pre-configuration, documentation, installation, and
configuration accelerators for specific mySAP components. Smart Implementations provide
tools to assist with technical infrastructure planning, installation of necessary components,
system configuration and integration into an existing SAP system landscape, and
infrastructure management in a production system.
The Smart Implementation for the mySAP Workplace includes the following installation and
configuration features:
Easy system infrastructure configuration with the Configuration Assistant
Automatic mySAP Workplace component installation
Easy integration of multiple component systems
Pre-configuration of all software components, including the Web server and Internet
Transaction Server (ITS)
Basis customization of the SAP R/3 System (Workplace Server)
The System Administration Assistant, an easy-to-use tool providing a comprehensive
administration concept to support the system administrator in important tasks.

12. What is the SAP Solution Architect?

The SAP Solution Architect is the portal that integrates all content, tools, and methodologies
necessary for the solution-oriented evaluation, implementation, quick adaptation, and
continuous improvement of the mySAP.com e-Business platform. It is fully integrated into the
Customer Engagement Life Cycle (CEL), open to partner content, and an integral part of the
SAP Service Infrastructure. In one portal, the SAP Solution Architect integrates:
Best Practices for mySAP.com to evaluate, implement, and extend e-Business
solutions.
Tried and tested implementation tools such as the Implementation Guide (IMG) and the
Test Workbench.

 Access to C-Business Maps for in-depth information on collaborative business

scenarios.
The ASAP method for running mySAP.com projects.
An authoring environment with which customers and partners can create their own
preconfigured implementation solutions.
Access to evaluation products such as the E-Business Case Builder and the Solution
Composer.
The benefits of using the SAP Solution Architect include:
Consistent access to all contents, tools, and methods for evaluating, implementing,
adapting, and continuously improving your mySAP.com e-business solution.
Rapid evaluation and implementation with Best Practices for mySAP.com.
Tried and tested evaluation and implementation tools that have been enhanced
specifically for use with mySAP.com.
Improved project communication and efficiency through a central portal.
A consistent and integrated approach that passes the business-oriented project
definition
from one phase to the next.
Complete alignment with the ASAP Roadmap.
Information about updates, training, and changes via the SAP Service Marketplace.

13. What is Configuration in SAP?

Configuration is the process of maintaining settings (parameters) in the system to support
specific/customized business requirements. Remember SAP is an all-encompassing
application which needs to be configured to meet your specific requirements.

14. What is the IMG?

The IMG (Implementation Guide) in SAP provides you with the various configuration steps
in a
tree-like structure for easy access with the nodes at the bottom representing the
configuration
objects. This is the central repository for customizing, providing a step-by-step guide for
carrying
out various activities. Besides the steps/activities, the IMG also contains explanations
concerning the order in which you need to make the customizations. When you execute an
activity from the IMG, you are indirectly changing the values (parameters) in the underlying
table.
The IMG is structured and arranged into four major logical groups:
1. General Settings (Country settings, currencies, calendar maintenance, time zones, field
display characteristics, etc.)
2. Enterprise Structure (Definition, assignment, consistency check, etc.)
3. Cross-Application Components (ALE, Time sheet, CATT, CAD integration, DMDocument
Management, EDI, Engineering Change Management (ECM), etc.)
4. Functional Area Settings (FI, CO, Logistics, PP, PM, QM, etc.)

15. Explain the Various Types of IMGs?

The SAP Reference IMG provides all the customizing steps for all functional areas of SAP.
This,
as the name suggests, is the reference IMG from which you may create your own IMG to
meet
the exact requirements of the (1) enterprise and (2) project. The Enterprise IMG is usually an
exact copy of the SAP Reference IMG, but limited to the countries where the
implementation is carried out. From the Enterprise IMG, you may create your Project IMG,
which will contain the application components/business processes required in the current
project. It is also possible to create the Project IMG by directly generating it from the SAP
Reference IMG. In this case, the country selection is done when the Project IMGs are
created.

16. What are All the Various Ways of Customizing?

You can customize SAP using:
IMG: Just follow the IMG tree, step-by-step. No technical knowledge (about tables,
views,
etc.) is required.
Example: To configure the Country Code, just follow the IMG Menu Path General
settings>Set countries>Define countries.
Tables: You need to know the name and structure of the tables where the parameters
are directly entered. Technical knowledge of customizable objects is required.
Example: To configure the Country Code, use transaction code: OY01. Enter the details in
Table V_T005.

17 Why is the IMG Route of Customizing Easier

than the Tables Route?
IMG is a logical way to access data from multiple physical tables without knowing from
where the data is flowing. This is because there are many transactions, which affect more
than one table.
There is no need to know the names of Tables and fields, though it always helps to
know
about the major tables.
IMG offers a step-by-step way of progressing from one activity to the other. Also, you
can
classify the activities into various views such as mandatory/critical/optional,
Clientdependent/
Client-independent, etc., so that you can proceed per your requirements and
time.
Since IMG provides you with the functional view, it becomes easier to configure and
test
immediately.

18. What is known as the Go-Live Check?

The Go-Live Check is done just before you cut over to live (production) operation in a
project.
This is to test whether the system is properly configured to meet the requirements of the
business. The check includes detecting problems in the
(a) SAP R/3 Application,
(b) Database,
(c) Operating System.
First, the Go-live Check involves an analysis of the major system components of the R/3
installation with regard to system consistency and reliability. For this, SAP experts log on to
your
R/3 system via a remote connection, inspect the configuration of individual system
components,
and provide valuable recommendations for system optimization. By analyzing the individual
system components before production start up, SAP can considerably improve the
availability
and performance of the customers live system. In addition, the technical application analysis
provides information on how to speed up the core processes within R/3. Secondly, the
transactions with high resource consumption are searched for and necessary adjustments
are made. Thirdly, the changes from the two prior sessions are validated. This check is
performed in the productive operation system.
After a system goes live, some fine tuning and eliminating of potential bottlenecks is still
necessary. This is carried out four weeks after going live with the R/3 System.

19. When Should You Conduct Business Process

Re-engineering (BPR)?
Typically Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) needs to be completed well before the
SAP implementation starts. This will help to identify any improvements that can be made
prior to
implementation and begin the process of change within the organization. Improvements that
will
be system-enabled will form part of the implementation and also help the project team to
identify
areas of change. However, it is also possible (but not recommended if there are large areas
requiring total process re-engineering) to do BPR during the business blueprint phase
provided the project team works within the boundary of the initial scope provided.

20. What are User Parameters?

SAP provides a way of lessening your day-to-day data entry operations by facilitating default
entries for fields, and bringing out the most suitable Display Variant for document display,
document entry, open/line item processing, etc. The user parameters, also known as Editing
Options, are a boon as they save time and result in greater accuracy as data entry errors
are
eliminated with the default values. You can, among many alternatives, set:

1. The system to default the exchange rate from the first line item.
2. A preference so that the user does not process any special GL transactions or foreign
currency transactions.
3. That the document needs to be complete before it is parked.
4. The system to calculate the tax component on the net invoice and not on the gross.
5. Your document currency either as the local currency or as the one used in the last
document.
6. The system to make a currency conversion if documents are to be fetched from archives.
7. Documents to be displayed using a reference number.
8. Payment reference to be used as a selection item in open item processing.
9. To activate branch/head office dialogue while processing line items.