Five ways to keep stakeholders aligned in an SAP S/4 HANA migration

A migration from ECC to S/4 HANA may sometimes look like a dragon with many heads. The complexity of moving from one version to a completely new (cloud) platform is not just a technological challenge, but also puts the corporate organization to the test. Stakeholder alignment is key to a successful S/4 HANA implementation.

Who are the stakeholders in an S/4 HANA migration?

A lot of different people are involved in and impacted by the changes that a migration to S/4 HANA brings about, and each of these stakeholders has their own point of view about the quality assurance (QA) strategy of the migration. End-users want the change to be minimal, architects want to ensure that everything fits in well with the overall standards, business managers and product owners care most about the new opportunities the software creates and want to minimize disruptions while executives look at the migration from a strategic perspective, focusing on ROI, timelines and overall project success… And certainly, software developers, the QA team and external contractors have their priorities too. Balancing these differing interests and ensuring that all stakeholders understand the importance of QA in the overall migration process need to be central in the QA strategy.

What are the challenges in an S/4 HANA migration?

At the same time, there are many factors to take into account:

• QA scope definition: functional and non-functional requirements, performance testing, cybersecurity testing, integration testing…

• Resource allocation: allocating budget for QA tools, additional personnel, ensuring enough time is allocated for comprehensive testing, bug fixing, validation…

• Risk management: identifying risks and developing strategies to mitigate identified risks

• Data: getting hold of the right data to populate test cases

• Human factors such as resistance to change and the (un)willingness to leave the legacy behind and let go of the customizations that have been made.

In a complex project like this, time is of the essence, and as we explained in a previous blog [LINK TO BLOG Accelerating the journey to S4 HANA] there are many ways to accelerate the journey to S/4 HANA.

Five ways to keep stakeholders aligned

From TTC’s vast experience, we can recommend a few best practices to keep all the stakeholders aligned in complex projects.

1. Set up a Testing center of excellence
   
   A Testing Center of Excellence (TCoE) serves as the backbone of quality assurance during an S/4 HANA migration. By centralizing testing activities and creating a structured framework, a TCoE ensures consistent testing practices across the entire project. Establishing standardized testing methodologies and tools ensures that all teams follow the same procedures, leading to more reliable and comparable results. This centralized testing team can streamline processes, reduce redundancy, and optimize resource utilization, thereby increasing overall efficiency and maintaining high-quality standards.
   
2. Work only based on facts, not on emotions
   
   In the high-stakes environment of an S/4 HANA migration, decisions driven by emotions rather than facts can lead to costly mistakes. Ensuring that all decisions are based on accurate data and factual analysis is crucial for maintaining stakeholder alignment and project integrity. The more mature an organization is, the bigger the chance that there is a culture that prioritizes data and factual evidence over personal opinions and assumptions. Developers may not always be willing to agree when a tester finds an issue, so it’s best to back up these claims with concrete data. Implementing transparent reporting mechanisms should document progress, issues and test results that are clear and available to all stakeholders.
   
3. Ensure there is always an escalation chain
   
   Disagreements and conflicts between stakeholders are inevitable in large-scale projects like S/4 HANA migrations. Having a well-defined escalation chain ensures that issues are resolved promptly and effectively, preventing them from derailing the project. An escalation chain enables quick resolution of conflicts by escalating issues to higher authorities when necessary. It also provides clarity on the steps to be taken when disagreements arise, reducing confusion and ensuring that everyone knows the protocol.
   
4. Start early with the alignment
   
   By ensuring that everyone is on the same page from the outset, you can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts later in the project. Early alignment helps establish a shared vision and common goals among both technical and business stakeholders, fostering collaboration and alignment. By aligning early and agreeing on the importance of quality assurance, it’s easier to practice ‘shift-left’ and gain precious time in the QA process, speeding up the rollout without compromising quality.
   
5. Call in the help of an independent party
   
   Bringing in an independent party, such as TTC Global, can provide an objective perspective and help mediate conflicts among stakeholders. An external expert can act as an arbitrator and ensure that the project stays on track. As an independent party, we offer an unbiased view and help identify potential blind spots that internal teams may overlook. Being an outsider also makes it easier to mediate disputes and facilitate constructive discussions.
   
   With our focus on quality assurance and the many SAP projects in which we have been involved, TTC Global can drive testing meetings, quality workshops, requirement meetings and ensure the project does not only keep on track, but also keeps up the pace of the implementation.