ASAP 8 Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to learn more about ASAP 8 we recommend you to review the ADM deep dive session to Standard ASAP and Agile ASAP that are available on SCN.

This document will be regularly updated with answers about ASAP 8 Implementation Methodology. Please send us your questions or post them in the comments.

Q: What are the key improvements in ASAP 8?

ASAP 8 builds on the foundation of ASAP 7 and extends the focus on the four life-cycles (Business Processs Management, Value Management, Project Management and Application Lifecycle Management) with prescriptive delivery approach based on the SAP Advanced Delivery Management approach.

With ASAP 8 release the methodology bacame a framework for delivery of SAP projects and services. It has been used for definition of Service Delivery WBS for over 200 services in SAP Services Portfolio. ASAP 8 continues to bring innovation into the delivery projects with the new content for Application Visualization with iRise, Design Thinking Guides, Agile Implementation approach, Lean Blueprinting, etc.

There are changes in ASAP taxonomy including addition of Delivery Mode, Deployment Mode, clear assignment of accountability that enable the prescriptive delivery defined in SAP Advaced Delivery Management approach.

Q: How can I access ASAP 8?

Customers and partners can access ASAP 8 methodology in SAP Service Marketplace - http://service.sap.com/asap -> ASAP Implementation. Also check the webinars listed at the top of this post as they provide overview and show details about navigation in the ASAP environment.

Q: Where can I find ASAP overview presentation?

You can download up to date ASAP 8 overview presentation from ADM webinars for ASAP 8 methodology - Standard ASAP presentation and Agile ASAP presentation.

Q: When can I expect ASAP 8 content in SAP Solution Manager?

SAP is working on preparing ASAP 8 content in the SAP Solution Manager as a roadmap. We are targeting shipment of ASAP 8 contnet in Solution Manager content package ST-ICO SP37.

Q: Can I download ASAP 8 to my PC?

ASAP 8 is delivered through on-line platform (SAP Service Marketplace) and SAP Solution Manager (in near future). Currently there is no local version for PC or Mac.

Q: Are there plans to introduce ASAP 8 based ASA380 course?

SAP Education is already offering ASA380 course updated to ASAP 8 level. Classroom training is offered in SAP Training Centers.

Q: Will the SAP Associate PM Cetrification (C_PM_70) be updated to ASAP 8?

Yes. The updated version of the certification C_PM_71 will be available shortly in SAP Training Center and PearsonVue testing centers.

Q: Where in the ASAP methodology can I find the WBS?

The ASAP 8 WBS Dictionary accelerator is stored on the node 1.5 Scope Statement as the 'ASAP 8 WBS Dictionary Template'.

Q: I've heard that ASAP now contains specific Design Thinking use cases as guides. Where can I find them in the methodology?

Refer to the picture below for more details about the locations and use cases for Design Thinking wokshops in the context of Standard and Agile ASAP projects.

Q: Agile ASAP - Is there a recommended duration for the sprint / iteration?

In general the sprints are between 2 and 4 weeks of duration. Consistently through out the project - once the team picks duration for their sprints they stick with it. In organizations that already have regular cadence (takt) it is recommended that the project is synchronized with the overall takt. In organizations that do not have established takt the project team sets the sprint duration and uses it consistently from sprint to sprint.

Q: Agile ASAP - how do I deal with deliverables that are longer that the sprint duration?

The team needs to split the larger requirements into smaller user stories that can be delivered within a sprint. General rule of thumb in Agile projects is that the requirement should not be bigger than 50% of the duration of the sprint. This way team has ability to show progress during the sprint and ensure that the requiremnt is getting realized.

Q: Agile ASAP - I understand that the sprints are implementing bite-size requirements, does the blueprinting need to be comprehensive and include full design work?

No. The blueprinting needs to collect the requirments on the level that is sufficient for the project team to understand the requirement, estimate it and implement it in the sprint. It is not the objective of the lean blueprint to detail the technical and functional implementation. This is one reason why the Blueprint phase in Agile implementation is referred to as a Lean Blueprint (in A2O projects as Delta Scoping)

Q: Agile ASAP - What are the key criteria to determine whether to use Traditional or Agile approach?

In general both approaches are suitable to implementation of SAP solutions. The preferred approach is determined by assessing the organizational fit, project team fit, project manager fit, solution fit and stakeholder expectations fit. Following picture shows conditions that challenge agile and overview of benefits of Agile.

Note that conditions that challenge agile adoption are not necessarily show stopper; agile teams need to adjust the approach to work around the issue/limitation - for example in regulated environments the team needs to include the documentation requirements as part of the definition of Done.