Information Models/Business Object Models

[#1]

Many companies looking at implementing SAP and SOA/eSOA already have some information models/business object models based on the information/objects needed to drive the processes today. Probably SAP will play/are playing an important role/part of the landscape but there are and will be other solutions too. Are there any good documentation, e.g. entity relationship diagrams etc, that describes the SAP master data object models (Customer, Vendor, Material, Business Partner, Product etc) or the capabilities of the models (because they are configurable)?

Are there any good way of finding this information in the SAP system?

Related to this question, have anyone seen the detailed description of the Business Object which the SAP Enterprise Services are based on?

In the ES Workplace it seems like SAP have not released this information yet but I guess they have modeled it in the ESR to create the Enterprise Service definitions,do anybody know if this will be released and when?

Also related to this question, SAP NetWeaver MDM comes with predelivered data models based on the master data objects in the SAP busienss applications (ERP, CRM, SRM etc). How smiliar are these to the complete models in ERP, CRM, SRM etc?

Based on the question above, are/shouldn't these models be based on the eSOA/ES Business Object models in the ESR? Do anyone have any input on when or if there will be one common repository for this in the near future?

The last question related to this. When looking at general information modelling, for e.g. a whole enterprise, based on the needs of the business/processes, should you now, with SAP eSOA, try to map that to the Business Object models that come with the Enterprise Services or should you map to/start from the models that come with the SAP applications (ERP, CRM, SRM, SCM etc)?

From my knowledge there is not always a 1-1 mapping between these models. Any experiences/input?

Many questions in one go but I thought they where related so I posted them in one go. Feel free to only answer/give input on a subset.

[Former Member]

Thanks for all good input and discussion. Please continue to use this thread for discussion around this topic but I do mark this thread as answered now!

Regards,

Markus

[MendelKoerts]

Couldn't agree more with your point on the logical repository. Often, the 'data-layer' in a conceptual SOA model is seen as synonym for a 'persistency service', while it plays a pivotal role in eSOA-based SAP+ environments. Here's a link to my view on BPM/SOA, have a look at slide 4: http://www.vnsg.nl/temp/401777432/Parallel2_Capgemini.pdf

[Former Member]

Hello Mendel,

Thanks for the presentation and your view on this. I agree with your view and I can see that you also have some insight into SAP EAF. I heard something about that the next version of TOGAF perhaps being based on SAP EAF, have you heard anything around this?

Regards,

Markus

[MendelKoerts]

Markus,

Capgemini did submit a change request to the Open Group. They're still studying it. I have to refer you to the official Open Group communication, which states TOGAF 2008 will be delivered in 2008...

[Former Member]

Hi Mendel,

Got into your Presentation and other stuff as well.

Can you please make me clear on the following aspects.

1) What is the benefit for an SAP consulting/implementation Organization to go/know about EAF. Is there any?

2) EAF is more to understand the architecture/ framework to concatenate your business and IT needs. Am I right?

3) How to correlate BPM/BPMS with EAF?

4) Is it easy for organizations to revisit their complete landscape in terms for EAF?

5) EAF-- Only a concept or some tools available to scan your thoughts. If Yes, what are they?

6) Where does ARIS stand in between?

7) What apart from ESOA and packaged solutions does EAF focuses on?

Don't know whether these questions fall in easy or complex category

Piyush

[MendelKoerts]

1) The SAP EAF is an eSOA-aware method you use for planning your future SAP environment, so most convenient for SAP Enterprise and Solution Architects. It is not particulary interesting for people doing hands-on implemenation.

2) The SAP EAF is definitely a means to align business and IT.

3) The SAP EAF can serve as a method for developing an enterprise-level vision on BPM/BPMS (the automation of process management) and for architecting the Future State SAP environment needed to realize that vision.

4) When adopting (parts of) SAP EAF, you don't need to revise anything in your IT landscape.

5) The SAP EAF does provide suggestions for scanning thoughts, like Business Capability Analysis.

6) IDS-Scheer supports the SAP EAF meaning that al entities from the SAP EAF metamodel can be modelled in ARIS.

7) SAP EAF is based on TOGAF ADM, which is an open standard method for full scale Enterprise Architecture development. Thus, not limited to SAP or eSOA.

[Former Member]

Mendel,

First, let me thank you for your detailed response....

But to your point "IDS-Scheer supports the SAP EAF meaning that all entities from the SAP EAF metamodel can be modelled in ARIS" -

I have had a push-back from IDS Scheer regarding the SAP EAF (which I understand as being hosted in the ARIS platform).

Can you point us to any specific url/web link at the IDS Scheer or SAP site where you can download the SAP EAF and which mentions that it is maintained in the ARIS Toolkit ?

Thanks,

Dave S.

PS: I was also interested in the Cap Gemini presentation which you mentioned in a prior post <<http://www.vnsg.nl/temp/401777432/Parallel2_Capgemini.pdf>> - but the link isn't working...