SAP K Gradings K1 - K8

Former Member · ‎2009 Oct 13

Does anybody know where I could get the full roles and responsibility descriptions for the following SAP consulting gradings :

As far as I am aware the following categories have been defined for SAP consultants:

K1 = Junior Consultant

K2 = Consultant I

K3 = Consultant II

K4 = Consultant III

K5 = Senior Consultant/Management Consultant

K6 = Lead Consultant/Project Implementation Manager/Implementation Specialist

K7 = Development / Consulting Manager / Platinum or Senior Consultant / Global Support Manager / Senior Project Implementation Manager / Industry Specialist

K8 = Senior Development / Consulting Director / Consulting Vice President

We would like to incorporate the relelvant SAP specific aspects into our own company Role profiles (for example statemenst such as May supervise colleagues at Level 1 to Level 3 and allocate resources to make sure work is undertaken effectively and efficiently etc etc.

Thanks, Koen

Former Member · ‎2015 Jan 27

Hello koen

These are the descriptions of SAP consulting gradings :

TRAINEE CONSULTANT (K1)

Position Concept

The Trainee Consultant is an entry-level SAP consulting position.

Individuals with requisite academic / professional qualification are

candidates for this position. They would typically not have any business

or systems implementation experience.

They need to display potential in basic communication and interpersonal

skills, leadership capabilities, conceptual thinking and innovation.

They have to be results oriented and enthusiastic and have the ability

to work in a team.

Trainee consultants will be trained in a specific

functional/technological area in mySAP. They will attend the SAP

Academy, ASAP training and applicable Consulting skills training.

Trainee consultants have to be SAP certified and ASAP certified prior to

embarking on any SAP project. They are expected to participate as team

members and will be mentored on the project by either a Consultant or

Senior Consultant. They would be given specific tasks on the project,

which will be carried out under the guidance of their mentor.

They will undergo regular Performance assessment processes to monitor

progress.

Responsibilities:

* Will work within a team under direct supervision of a mentor

assigned to them

* Responsible for specific tasks as assigned by their mentors

* Documentation and administrative tasks

* Use ASAP methodology and tools on the project

* Continually develop mySAP core skills and business knowledge

based on accumulated experience.

* Apply knowledge gained from each project experience to execute

future tasks for projects

ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT (K2)

Position Concept

The Associate Consultant has requisite academic / professional

qualifications and with at least 2 years of industry or functional or IT

skills (in specific application areas).

Associate Consultants are either skilled in mySAP specific functional

knowledge or will be trained in a specific functional/technological area

in mySAP. They have to be SAP certified and ASAP certified prior to

embarking on any SAP project. They are expected to participate as team

members and will be mentored on the project by either a Senior or a

Principal Consultant. Typically they would participate in discussions on

process design, configure certain portions of mySAP as per directions

given by the team leader, and provide support in documentation, system

testing and authorizations. They would also perform any administrative

tasks that are involved in a project.

Responsibilities:

* Primary responsibility is preparation and contribution to the

process design workshops, take directions and configure the SAP system,

demonstrate and gain acceptance from the customer

* Assists in the technical preparation of Business Process

Procedures, Test Scenarios, End-user documentation, and User manuals

* Uses ASAP methodology and tools on the project

* Interacts with SAP organisation as necessary during the project

& performs any administrative tasks that are involved in a project.

* Operates as a team member. Continually reports progress. Assumes

additional responsibilities as required

* Continually develops mySAP core skills and business knowledge

based on accumulated experience. Applies knowledge gained from each

project experience to execute future tasks for projects

* Sets priorities appropriately, ensures that work outputs are

timely and of the highest quality

* Receives management direction as appropriate.

*

CONSULTANT (K3)

Position Concept:

The Consultant performs the bulk of the engagement as defined by the

client contract, and is certified in at least one area of mySAP as well

as in the ASAP methodology. Consultants gather facts, analyse the

client's business processes and draws conclusions. They prepare the

design of the solution and demonstrate SAP functionality to support the

findings and conclusions. Consultants are expected to establish

relationships with client personnel and to deliver timely, high quality

consulting to the client.

Individuals with requisite academic professional qualification and with

at least 5 years of industry or functional or IT skills (in specific

application area) are candidates for this position.

Responsibilities:

* Contributes to consulting projects by analysing client's

business processes and design of mySAP solution. Primary responsibility

is preparation and contribution to the process design workshops, take

directions and configure the mySAP system, demonstrate and gain

acceptance from the customer. Moves logically and creatively from facts

to conclusions. Performs configuration and assists clients in testing

cycles.

* Assists in the technical preparation of Business Process

Procedures, Test Scenarios, End-user documentation, and User manuals

* Assists the client in mySAP knowledge transfer. Establishes

credibility with the client. Interfaces with clients in a professional

manner with emphasis on building client relationships.

* Is alert to opportunities for additional business with the

client. Shares client needs and trends in the marketplace and alerts

Consulting Platinum to potential long-term opportunities

* Continually develops mySAP core skills and business knowledge

based on accumulated experience. Uses ASAP methodology and tools in the

project and acquires additional skills in cross-functional areas and

enabling technologies

* Interact with SAP organisation as necessary during the project &

performs any administrative tasks that are involved

* Leads the execution of assigned project tasks in areas of

demonstrated competence. This includes facilitating meetings/task

groups, tracking and influencing task group progress, tracking project

deliverables, etc.

* Operates as a team member. Continually reports on progress to

the Project Manager and participates as an active member of the project

team. Assumes additional responsibilities as required

* Sets priorities appropriately. Ensures that work outputs are

timely and of the highest quality

* Occupies a non-management position. However operates

autonomously and receives management direction as appropriate.

SENIOR CONSULTANT (K4)/ PROJECT TEAM LEADER

Position Concept

The Senior Consultant plays a key role on the project team; either by

running small projects, Integrating portions of a large project, or

being a team member on a project, driving the analysis, process

finalisation, resolving process and technical issues. The Senior

Consultant performs the role of a Team Leader and ensures high quality

service and high client satisfaction. The Senior Consultant will be

involved in preparing the detailed level plan for their functional area.

The Senior Consultant will also assist in business development

activities by providing proposal inputs.

The Senior Consultant must ensure that the tasks continue to address the

needs of the client and fit within the overall scope of the project, and

are completed on time and within the budget. When issues surface that

could change the scope of the project, the Senior Consultant should

report to the Project Manager and negotiate the impact of these changes

with the client.

Senior Consultants are expected to invest time in the professional

development of other consultants. They act as role models through their

dedication to client service and problem solving and demonstrate their

high-level calibre and capabilities. They provide feedback to their

fellow junior consultants for improvement in their performance.

This position is very visible within SAP and client organisation. Senior

Consultants are expected to build strong relationships and solid

reputations within the industry and market they serve.

Responsibilities:

* Works on more than one engagement at a time. Manages small

engagements or a portion of a large engagement

* Assists in the development and implementation of the project

plan for a project. This includes drafting the project plan (scope,

deliverables, timelines and resources), identifying and recruiting team

members, and preparing and assisting in the preparation of individual

work plans.

* For assigned area, oversees all project activities leading to

the implementation of the requirements.

* Senior Consultants demonstrate creativity and thought

leadership, and use their experience in substantiating the proposed

solutions to the client.

* Contributes to consulting projects by analysing client's

business processes and mySAP solution design. Moves logically and

creatively from facts to conclusions

* Performs configuration and assists clients in testing cycles.

* Assists the client in mySAP knowledge transfer.

* Maintains and expands client contact at high levels and builds

credible relationships with key client personnel.

* Understands client requirements and assists in selling

additional business. Works closely with SAP sales force to create and

define consulting projects and ensures that the client's overall

business objectives and needs are translated into well-defined and

justified projects. This includes preparing work plans and contributing

to proposals that describe the process use to meet the client's needs

and include deliverables, timelines and estimates of the costs and

resources required.

* Primary responsibility is preparation and contribution to the

process design workshops, provide directions to the consultants and

configure the mySAP system, demonstrate and gain acceptance from the

customer.

* Deploy consultants in the technical preparation of Business

Process Procedures, Test Scenarios, End-user documentation, and User

manuals

* Sets priorities appropriately. Ensures that work outputs are

timely and of the highest quality

* Continually develop mySAP core skills, IS-specific skills and

cross-functional expertise and business knowledge based on accumulated

experience. Applies knowledge gained from each project experience to

execute future tasks for projects more effectively.

* Use ASAP methodology and tools in the project

* Perform any administrative tasks that are involved in a project.

* Leads the execution of assigned project tasks in areas of

demonstrated competence. This includes facilitating meetings/task

groups, tracking and influencing task group progress, tracking project

deliverables, etc.

* Interacts with SAP organisation as appropriate, to deploy the

requisite expertise on the engagement team to address specific client

needs in a timely and efficient manner and ensures client access to the

best available resources within SAP. Works with SAP Implementation

Partners to ensure seamless delivery of services to the client. Also

informs SAP organization about client needs and trends in the

marketplace and alerts them of potential long-term opportunities.

* Is a key client contact and will exercise authority appropriate

to particular client requests commensurate with client expectations of

decision-making and consistent with SAP policies and practices. This

will include decisions on resources, contracts, and other

business/process issues where the Senior Consultant is representing SAP.

* Assumes additional responsibilities as required

* Occupies a non-management position. However operates

autonomously and receives management direction as appropriate.

* Acquires additional SAP skills in cross-functional areas and

enabling technologies

PLATINUM CONSULTANT (K5)

Position Concept

Platinum Consultants are involved in large and multiple engagements.

They have Industry focus and are very senior in the consulting

organisation with outstanding track records in industry. The Platinum

Consultant understands and appreciates SAP offerings and mySAP product

capabilities. He utilises his industry skills with SAP product skills to

leverage new opportunities for the SAP country-consulting organisation.

They have overall responsibility for project results including quality

of deliverables, client satisfaction and timelines. The Platinum

Consultant provides direction from Industry Specific or new offering

perspectives to the project team. They would also perform specific tasks

based on the demands of the project.

The Platinum Consultant participates in pre-project activities, such as

defining client opportunities, determining scope, and formulating the

approach to address the client challenges.

Platinum Consultants place heavy emphasis on the client relationship.

Working with the Project Director or Consulting Manager they prepare

proposals that result in client commitment to new and/or expanded

projects.

Platinum Consultants are responsible for contributing to the

professional development of Consultants and may have specific management

responsibilities as well, e.g. administering the professional

development of Consultants. They serve as role models through their

thought leadership, dedication to client service, and routine production

of high quality work. They are mentors and coaches for consultants. They

also provide feedback to Consultants on their consulting performance.

They are active participants in the development of their practice,

including consultant's training/education, mentoring and the recruitment

of new consultants.

Platinum Consultants are the authority in the Industry they represent.

They are active participants in many of the initiatives driven by many

of the Industry associations in the country. They position SAP as a

solution provider as appropriate in these meetings and discussions. They

must be outspoken and well-accepted speakers in many of these key

meetings and gatherings.

Industry knowledge with business, functional knowledge and experience is

a prerequisite. Understanding integrated business environments is

essential. Project Management skills are desirable.

The Platinum Consultant conducts senior management and process design

workshops at strategic level and ensures high quality service and high

client satisfaction. The Platinum Consultant will proactively assist in

business development activities by providing and developing new

initiative proposals.

This position is very visible within SAP and the client organisation.

Platinum Consultants are expected to have some bearing on client

decisions and to have solid relationships with key client executives at

high levels. They should have strong relationships and solid reputations

within the industry and market they serve.

Responsibilities:

* Works on multiple projects simultaneously.

* Provides industry specific solutions and best practices

knowledge to clients

* Develops a solution framework and an implementation plan for

industry specific projects or projects using new dimension products.

* Uses and ensures that mySAP solution maps, ASAP and other

relevant SAP methodologies and tools are deployed very effectively in

client strategic workshops and deliveries.

* Ensures solutions are delivered on time and are of the highest

quality.

* Conducts strategic level workshops with clients to drive a SAP

solution for acceptance and implementation

* The Platinum is involved along with the Project Director/Project

Manager in drafting the project plan (scope, deliverables, timelines and

resources), identifying and recruiting team members, and preparing and

assisting in the preparation of individual work plans.

* For assigned area, oversees all project activities leading to

the implementation of the requirements.

* Platinum Consultants demonstrate creativity and thought

leadership, and use their experience in substantiating the proposed

solutions to the client.

* Contributes to consulting projects by analysing client's

business processes and designing the appropriate SAP solution. Moves

logically and creatively from facts to conclusions

* Maintains and expands client contact at high level and builds

credible relationships with key client personnel. Meets regularly with

client executives to discuss business strategy issues of concern to the

client organisation. Manages client expectations. Has some bearing on

client decisions.

* Understands client requirements and assists in selling

additional business. Works closely with SAP sales force to create and

define consulting projects and ensures that the client's overall

business objectives and needs are translated into well-defined and

justified projects. This includes preparing work plans and contributing

to proposals that describe the process use to meet the client's needs

and include deliverables, timelines and estimates of the costs and

resources required.

* A Platinum Consultant is a role model and coach for consultants-

performs the mentor role. Provides meaningful feedback to consultants to

the overall performance evaluation of project team members.

* Sets priorities appropriately. Ensures that work outputs are

timely and of the highest quality

* Perform any administrative tasks that are involved in a project.

* Leads the execution of assigned project tasks in areas of

demonstrated competence. This includes facilitating meetings/task

groups, tracking and managing task group progress, tracking project

deliverables, etc.

* Interacts with SAP organisation as appropriate, to deploy the

requisite expertise on the engagement team to address specific client

needs in a timely and efficient manner and ensures client access to the

best available resources within SAP. Works with SAP Implementation

Partners to ensure seamless delivery of services to the client. Also

informs SAP organisation of client needs and trends in the marketplace

and alerts them to potential long-term opportunities.

* Is a key client contact and will exercise authority appropriate

to particular client requests commensurate with client expectations of

decision-making and consistent with SAP policies and practices. This

will include decisions on resources, contracts, and other

business/process issues where the Senior Consultant is representing SAP.

* Assumes additional responsibilities as required

* Occupies a non-management position. However operates

autonomously and receives management direction as appropriate.

* Acquires additional SAP skills in cross-functional areas and

enabling technologies

* Works with the Project Management Team and the Country

Consulting Manager to secure SAP's Consulting future and current

strategy and its execution

PROJECT MANAGER (K5)

Position Concept

The Senior Project Manager is a key position in the Consulting

Organisation. They are responsible for the successful delivery of a

project in terms of scope, deliverables, timeline, budget, client

satisfaction and employee satisfaction. The Project Manager is a window

through which the client views SAP and the SAP organisation.

Project Managers must have a rational view to various situations in the

project. They must be very sensitive to client needs bearing in mind the

conflicting requirements that a client team would demand, and the

delivery capabilities of the consulting team.

The skills of the Project Manger are - good project planning skills,

understanding and appreciation of the complexities involved in the

implementation of an integrated application, good communication skills

and people management skills. The Project Manager must be team builder,

motivator, and coach. Must be able to resolve conflicts, take

appropriate decisions at the right time and substantiate the proposed

solution to the client. The Project Manager, with the support of the

Senior Consultants or Integration Consultants, would take the right

decisions for the project. The Project Manager is a taskmaster when it

comes to the delivery of the project. They are responsible for managing

issues that arise from either the consultants and / or the client.

Prior experience in SAP implementation or SAP Project Management is

desirable. The Project Manager must be ASAP certified, to ensure that

the necessary methodology and tools are being deployed fully in the

project by the project team. The consulting team reports to the Project

Manager through their Team Leaders for that project. The Project Manager

works with the Client Project Manager for planning activities, obtaining

necessary infrastructure support and decisions that are required for the

project to progress.

The Project Manager should ensure that regular meetings between the

team, as well as the Steering Committee are conducted. In case of lapse,

the Project Manager communicates the same to the Client Management team

to evoke response, commitment and involvement. As necessary, the Project

Manager may involve an SAP Project Advisor or SAP Auditors, to assist

them in providing useful recommendations for the progress and successful

implementation of the project. Project Managers normally report to the

Consulting Manger in the SAP Organisation. In case of large projects,

where parallel implementations are running, the Project Manager would

report to the Project Director. The Project Manager would take the

Project Director's advice and inputs to run the project.

The Project Manager interacts with the SAP organisation when support is

required in terms of Consulting skills, technical support or SAP issues

or any business issue that is beyond the scope of the implementation.

The personal characteristics of a Project Manager reflect their

capabilities in managing the project as individual resources:

* A well-balanced and tolerant nature

* Ability both to lead and work in teams

* Ability to cope with stress

* Rhetorical skills

* Capacity for enthusiasm and dedication

* Ability to make decisions and assertiveness

* Management and policy-oriented thinking

* Creativity and good judgement

* A systematic approach and way of working

* "Social skills" include abilities that assist the project

manager in coping with difficult social situations

* They assist the PM hold responsibility and take on leadership

(?)

* A good understanding and empathy towards human nature

* Ability to deal with conflict and develop relationships

The Professional Skills of a Project Manager should be based on an

all-round, global knowledge:

* SAP Product awareness and the architecture

* Managerial and economic aspects

* Information technology basics

* General project management

* Foreign languages

* Leadership techniques

* Planning and control techniques

* Good Presentation and Communication skills

* Project Planning and Detailed work plan development skills

* Working materials for project management

* SAP implementation tools (Reference Model, IMG (SPELL OUT),

ASAP, others)

* Best Estimator tool for estimating the labour requirement

* Standard software products used at SAP

Responsibilities:

* The Project Manager works on one engagement at a time

* Responsible for implementing mySAP solution within the scope,

time and budget

* Responsible for deliverables with high quality and client's

satisfaction

* Conduct weekly project team meetings

* Conduct monthly or (periodic) Steering Committee Meeting

* Resolve issues without affecting the project

* Communicate and stay in touch with the Senior Management of the

Client organisation with regard to the progress of the project. Gain

acceptance and support for the rapid implementation of the project

* Motivate team for better results

* Provide appropriate support for the project team as and when

required

* Involve SAP Auditors or SAP Project Advisor as and when

necessary

* Work with the Implementation Partner consulting resources for

smooth and cordial functioning of the project activities

* Ensures knowledge transfer occurs with the client team

* Makes clear the roles and responsibilities of the consultants

team and client team

* Ensures outputs and results from both client and consultant

teams

* Report exception to the SAP Project Director/Senior Project

Manager and Client Management

* Prepare weekly progress reports through the Team Leaders and

circulate

* Prepare or provide support in the preparation of Steering

Meeting presentations as well as the minutes

* Overall management of the project

* Have minimum escalation's to SAP Organisation

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER (K6)