SAP® ERP Upgrade and Testing : Case: Haaga-Helia UAS
Silvennoinen, Titta-Maria (2011)
Silvennoinen, Titta-Maria
HAAGA-HELIA ammattikorkeakoulu
2011
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2011110314221
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2011110314221
Tiivistelmä
The necessity for testing of the new upgraded SAP® ERP 6.0 training environment at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences led to the need for this thesis paper. The practical aim of the testing part was to ensure that the functionality and business processes required in the SAP ERP basics course of the Business Information Technology DP, having started in the autumn semester 2010, would not be affected by the upgrade and the course exercises of the previous implementation of the course, which functioned as test cases, would still be suitable.
The research method used for this thesis was a qualitative research with an empirical part. The empirical part consisted of a single-case study – i.e. testing the functionality and processes of the SAP ERP 6.0 application at Haaga-Helia UAS. Testing was conducted during the summer 2010. The test result tables for each test case can be found in the thesis appendices.
The theoretical part based on relevant literal and online sources introduced the field of study to the readers, so that they are better able to comprehend the significance of the empirical testing part and its results. The idea of this thesis was not to invent something new or improve something old - instead, the purpose was to provide an overview of the ERP upgrade as a post-implementation phase phenomenon and highlight relevant factors related to SAP ERP upgrade and, at the same, time provide the framework for the empirical part.
This thesis project indicated that upgrading an SAP ERP system can be a complex, business-changing project that deserves much of the same careful planning and execution as a new implementation. As a whole, this study provides a good information package on SAP ERP upgrade and testing as well as on other numerous factors that should be considered when planning, managing and executing an upgrade. In general, the duration, complexity and cost of an upgrade project depend on many factors such as the complexity of the SAP ERP landscape; the number of modules and the complexity of functionality in use; the extent of modifications; the number of interfaces to other applications; how far behind the client’s installed version has fallen from the latest vendor release; technical requirements; and the skills of the upgrade team.
Most likely this thesis will be useful for those who are interested in ERP software and issues related to its post-implementation phase, and to those who are interested in upgrading their SAP ERP solution. The objectives of the empirical testing part were achieved and therefore the thesis is also useful for the sponsor.
The research method used for this thesis was a qualitative research with an empirical part. The empirical part consisted of a single-case study – i.e. testing the functionality and processes of the SAP ERP 6.0 application at Haaga-Helia UAS. Testing was conducted during the summer 2010. The test result tables for each test case can be found in the thesis appendices.
The theoretical part based on relevant literal and online sources introduced the field of study to the readers, so that they are better able to comprehend the significance of the empirical testing part and its results. The idea of this thesis was not to invent something new or improve something old - instead, the purpose was to provide an overview of the ERP upgrade as a post-implementation phase phenomenon and highlight relevant factors related to SAP ERP upgrade and, at the same, time provide the framework for the empirical part.
This thesis project indicated that upgrading an SAP ERP system can be a complex, business-changing project that deserves much of the same careful planning and execution as a new implementation. As a whole, this study provides a good information package on SAP ERP upgrade and testing as well as on other numerous factors that should be considered when planning, managing and executing an upgrade. In general, the duration, complexity and cost of an upgrade project depend on many factors such as the complexity of the SAP ERP landscape; the number of modules and the complexity of functionality in use; the extent of modifications; the number of interfaces to other applications; how far behind the client’s installed version has fallen from the latest vendor release; technical requirements; and the skills of the upgrade team.
Most likely this thesis will be useful for those who are interested in ERP software and issues related to its post-implementation phase, and to those who are interested in upgrading their SAP ERP solution. The objectives of the empirical testing part were achieved and therefore the thesis is also useful for the sponsor.