In 2015, SAP announced the launch of SAP S/4HANA and the SAP Activate methodology, a project management approach used for an SAP S/4HANA implementation.
There are three implementation types—on-premise SAP S/4HANA; SAP S/4HANA Cloud (previously referred to as the multitenant cloud edition or essentials edition); and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, extended edition (previously referred to as the single-tenant edition)—and each require knowledge of the SAP Activate methodology.
Before SAP Activate, the two implementation methodologies SAP offered were Accelerated SAP (ASAP), which was used for on-premise implementations, and SAP Launch, which was used for cloud implementations. SAP Activate replaces both of these methodologies and is adapted from Scrum, a framework based on the agile methodology to implement software faster. Agile is a methodology that promotes the continuous iteration of software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes. This methodology provides a flexible yet robust and simpler approach to building a product that may have undergone major changes through its development lifecycle. Scrum is an iterative framework for developing complex products with continuous delivery. The framework is widely used for complex product development in multiple sectors. While it’s lightweight and easy to understand, it’s hard to master.
Regardless of your role in the SAP implementation, it’s important to understand the SAP Activate methodology to a certain degree. It’s also imperative to understand the big picture and know the ins and outs of the SAP world in order to find the right information at the right time. Whether or not they have an SAP background, many professionals have used the SAP Activate methodology, and there is ongoing demand for the certification knowledgebase.
For many professionals, getting an SAP certification is the key to gaining the recognition they seek, whether they’re working toward promotions or job offers. Professionals with proven knowledge will stand out to organizations looking for trustworthy and skilled candidates. From an employer’s perspective, having employees with validated knowledge makes the organization more desirable and credible to current and potential customers.
The SAP Certified Associate – SAP Activate Project Manager certification verifies the candidate’s competency in managing an SAP S/4HANA implementation project. It ensures that the successful candidates have the sound knowledge, expertise, and experience in applying the methodology, tools, and techniques to implement SAP S/4HANA projects, as well as an advanced level of business skills. This certification also verifies that the successful candidate has advanced communication and presentation skills, internal and external stakeholder management skills, basic knowledge of change management processes, and the ability to communicate these processes to others. The exam also tests the candidate’s ability to manage the end-to-end transition of the project from sales to realization, to develop roadmaps for project execution, and to understand testing and quality management. In particular, for SAP S/4HANA-related projects, the exam verifies that the project manager can apply the SAP Activate methodology.
Studying for any exam can be stressful, and it can be difficult to prepare efficiently without the proper resources. We published the SAP Activate Project Management Certification Guide: Certified Associate Exam to help you study and feel confident when taking your exam.
Begin with a high-level overview of the SAP Activate methodology. Review the three pillars it’s based on and understand the general foundation of the methodology. You’ll also study the SAP Activate elements.
Then get to know the agile and Scrum frameworks. Understand the relationship between the Scrum and SAP Activate methodologies; then explore the agile project organization in SAP S/4HANA implementations. Dive deeper into the agile and Scrum learning path by reviewing the delivery approach.
Get acquainted with the eleven workstreams of the SAP Activate methodology, and learn about the various concepts, roles, and tools associated with each. The remaining chapters will help familiarize your with the different transition paths: new implementation (greenfield), system conversion (brownfield), and selective data transition.
Each chapter includes practice questions, answers, and explanations, and the book concludes with two complete practice exams and answers to help you prepare further.
This book is for anyone interested in learning about or preparing to take the SAP Activate certification exam (C_ACTIVATE12). Program and project managers, customers, implementation partners, business leaders, process owners, and end users will find this book useful.
Aditya Lal is an SAP program director with more than 24 years of experience in large and complex project management spanning across geographies, domains, and business units. He has extensive experience in managing global implementations of SAP ERP 6.0, and for the last few years, he has focused on the implementation of SAP S/4HANA. He has worked on and managed several global business and digital transformation initiatives to SAP S/4HANA. Aditya has several certifications including the SAP Certified Associate – SAP Activate Project Manager, Six Sigma Green Belt, Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), Professional Scrum Master I and II, and SAFe 5.0 Agilist.
If you’re interested in purchasing SAP Activate Project Management Certification Guide, follow this link and choose the format that works best for you: e-book, print edition, or bundle (both e-book and print).
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Want even more SAP Activate information from SAP employees? Check out our SAP Activate Q&A with Sven Denecken, Jan Musil, Srivatsan Santhanam, and Bob Byrne. Also explore five golden rules for implementing SAP S/4HANA with SAP Activate here.