when to start implementing workflow ?

[Zmudzin,Tomasz,VEVEY,GL-DS/DM]

Ronen,
 
the usual reply is always "It depends".
 
Without delving into too much detail -- my usual approach is to determine by
when workflow is really needed. Depending on that I usually propose three
options:
 
1. If it's required right after productive start (data volumes, controls
etc.) -- squeeze the beginning of the workflow project AT THE END of the
conceptual design, when there's at least a firm idea how the processes will
look like after the go-live. That also gives you enough time to design &
implement the scenarios.
 
2. If it's an absolute must for the application functionality -- e.g.
notification processing etc. -- start in the middle of the conceptual
design. You'll have the benefits of Option 1, and some additional time to
delve into the processes.
 
3. If it's none of the above, to start designing just after the go-live (a
month or so) -- this gives a nice quick win for the next cycle of the
project (usually there's one), you'll have a stable base to work on and your
interlocutors will know where they would really need your support or where
the constraints are.
 
Of course there are exceptions, but the above usually works quite OK.
 
Kind regards,
Tomasz
 
P.S. 1.  Having a SAP BW-QM-MM-DMS background and having seen my bit of
projects on other modules I can only assure you workflow implementation
_IS_NOT_ complex at all. With the exception of some monster scenarios like
those mentioned in this list before, probably the bulk of our work is
actually quite simple, provided the processes are known and the basic
settings of the supported application finalized.
P.S. 2.  That's actually one of the things I like most -- coming to the
project and hearing "Whoa, that's so simple and so powerful".
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Ronen Fox [mailto:Ronen.Fox at ness.com]
Sent: Monday,2. September 2002 07:23
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: when to start implementing workflow ?
 
 
Dear workflow experts,
 
One of our clients, a very large manufacturing enterprise, is beginning to
prepare the implementation of mysap.com.
It would be a large project, and they are also interested in workflow,
although they have a fear that workflow is complex to implement.
 
The question I would like to ask this group on their behalf is what
recommendations you may have as to the phase of the ERP project that
workflow should be introduced ? right from the beginning of the conceptual
design ? after going live and letting the processes become more mature ?
I guess there is more that one answer, and I would really appreciate getting
various answers to this question that represent different methodologies.
 
Thank you all in advance for your kind help.
Best regards,
Ronen Fox
Workflow product manager
Ness Technologies