SAP S/4 Hana Documentation #1

What are the typical project documents?

Sequence	Document	Description	Dependencies
1	Business Process Design (BPD)	This document outlines how business processes will operate with the new S/4HANA system, including both the ‘as-is’ and the ‘to-be’ processes.	Prior knowledge of existing business processes and desired improvements.
2	Key Decision Document (KDD)	This document captures all significant decisions made during the project. It provides clarity and agreement on scope, business process design, configuration choices, etc.	Inputs from BPD, project management decisions, stakeholder discussions.
3	Functional Specification (FS)	This outlines the system’s expected behavior from a business user’s perspective. It captures the purpose, inputs, and outputs of a process based on the ‘to-be’ processes.	Outputs from the BPD and decisions made in the KDD.
4	Solution Design Document (SDD)	This is a comprehensive document detailing the architecture and system design of the solution. It takes the FS and describes how the SAP S/4HANA system will be configured and customized to support these processes.	Inputs from the FS and decisions from the KDD.
5	Technical Specification (TS)	This is derived from the FS and SDD and provides a detailed view of the implementation of the functional requirements. It includes information for developers, such as database changes, data dictionary objects, interface details, logic, algorithms, and more.	Inputs from the SDD and the FS.

In addition to the Business Process Design (BPD), Solution Design Document (SDD), Functional Specification (FS), Technical Specification (TS), and Key Decision Document (KDD), there are numerous other documents that are typically produced during an SAP S/4HANA implementation. Here are some examples:

1. Project Charter: This is typically one of the first documents created and it outlines the project’s scope, objectives, stakeholders, budget, timeline, and key performance indicators.
2. Project Plan: This details the tasks, resources, timelines, and dependencies for the implementation. It often includes a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart.
3. Business Blueprint: This document captures the business processes and requirements that the S/4HANA system will need to support. It serves as a foundation for the system’s configuration.
4. Gap Analysis Report: This report identifies any gaps between the business’s requirements (as outlined in the Business Blueprint) and the standard functionality available in S/4HANA. It helps guide decisions about process changes, system configuration, and custom development.
5. Data Migration Strategy and Plan: This includes details on how data will be migrated from the legacy system(s) to S/4HANA. It would include data mapping documents, data cleansing strategies, and migration scripts or tools.
6. Configuration Guide: This document captures the details of how the S/4HANA system is configured to meet the business’s requirements.
7. Test Plans and Test Scripts: These are created for various types of testing like unit testing, integration testing, user acceptance testing, etc.
8. Training Materials: These could include user guides, training presentations, and hands-on exercises to help end users learn how to use the new system.
9. Cut-over Plan: This details the tasks, timelines, and resources required to transition from the legacy system(s) to the new S/4HANA system.
10. Post Go-Live Support Plan: This outlines how users will be supported after the S/4HANA system goes live, including details on the help desk, issue resolution processes, ongoing training, etc.

These documents support different aspects of the implementation process and help ensure that the project is well-planned, the new system meets the business’s needs, and that the transition to the new system is as smooth as possible.