Sap User Training Over The Past Decade

SAP User Training over the Past Decade

Introduction

SAP is one of the leading companies in the world today dealing with software development and consultancy services. It provides businesses enterprises around the globe, of all sizes and types, with enterprise software applications coupled with support for the same. The company was formed in the year 1972 under the name of Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP). This was in Mannheim, Germany. Their aspiration at the time was to develop quality application software. This was meant for real time business operations.

The company provides training to the clients who aspire to use their systems applications. This training is carried out in classroom, but due to the fact that most SAP users are scattered around the globe, the company has opted for online training programs. To manage change in the work environment, training has to be conducted on the staff so that they can learn how to use the new systems. This is where SAP comes in. They provide online training for their clients so that they can master the new programs that have been developed by this company.

Over the past one decade, SAP has experienced technological evolution as far as their services are concerned. This can especially be gleaned from the online training classes that they offer their clients. Hitherto, the training sessions were non-interactive, meaning that there was no real connection between the trainer and the trainee. However, over the years, this has changed and now the classes are more interactive. The student can now regulate the learning strategies as he masters the use of the software offered by SAP. This has been achieved through the use of simulations, where the student feels that he is inside a real classroom, albeit a virtual classroom.

This study is going to address the technological evolution that has been experienced by SAP

SAP User Training over the Past Decade

over the past one decade. Special focus will be given to the online training programs, and the writer will give examples of some earlier programs that had been offered by this company. The study will go ahead to investigate the growing trend towards self-management within organizations. This will be done by examining the learning processes that individuals adopt when trying to master computer software on their own.

Earlier SAP Online Training

1. SAP ABAP Training

ABAP is a fourth generation language (4GL) that is specific to a particular application. It was developed for the very first time in early 1980’s (Adeloitte, 2008). This been the case, SAP/ABAP then means that this training was offered so that the learners can acquire skills on how to use ABAP in SAP applications (Adeloitte, 2008). SAP adopted this language for its report on their SAP R/2 application. Skills that were taught included business applications for managing the materials and financial accounting of businesses.

2: SAP BI/BW Training

This is a business intelligence, analytical, reporting and data warehousing program (Malinowski, 2009). It was developed by SAP AG. Initially, it was referred to as SAP BIW, which is acronym for Business Information Warehouse. It is currently referred to as “SAP BI). This is at the end user level (Malinowski, 2009). But the abbreviation “BW” is still in operation. It is used to refer to the Data Warehouse Area and Accelerator parts of this application (Adeloitte, 2008).

This training is broken down to several components or modules. The first addresses Enterprise Data Warehousing, which introduces the learner to OLAP concepts. Data modeling is then offered next, followed by data extraction and monitoring and other advanced instructions

SAP User Training over the Past Decade

(Malinowski, 2009).

Growing Trend towards Self-Management in Organizations

It is a fact that individuals are now taking the initiative to learn the application programs on their own. This is so to enable them to tailor the pace of the training, and the direction that the training is going to take, to their needs (Kirkpatrick, 2008). Instead of waiting for the organization to prod them to take the lessons, they do it on their own volition.

With the widespread use of the internet, majority of the people are opting to take the classes online. Given that the internet runs throughout the day, and at all days of the week, it is possible for the leaner to take the lessons when he needs them and at his own timing (Kirkpatrick, 2008). This enables him to juggle work and learning.

Different people adopt different learning methods when they are taking these lessons. There are those who learn best when they are given leeway by the online instructor and allowed to be creative on their own ways. Still, others learn best when they are been prodded along. This is achieved by the use of simulations, where the learner feels like he is in the real classroom where the training is taking place.

Conclusion

Thirty seven years down the line, SAP still maintains the lead in systems production and consultancy services. This has been achieved through investment in research and development that this company has done. This research and development ensures that the services and products of the company remain relevant to the needs of the client at that particular time. Within

SAP User Training over the Past Decade

the last ten years, the traditional online training that this company provides for their clients have seen a great deal of evolution. Whereas there before it was non-interactive, it is now one of the most interactive online training programs available. This interaction is achieved through simulation and such other developments.

References

Adeloitte, B. M. (2008). Online companies in American business world. New York: McGraw-Hill, 24.

Accessed from http://ezsap.com/ ; on 6

Malinowski, H. I. (2009). The rise of SAP AG. Lubbock: Cengen Books, 489.