Case Study Assignment Template

[Case Study Customer]

[Create a copy of the Case Study Template
● To edit, download or make a copy. Save the file to your Microsoft Desktop or One Drive or to your Google Drive
if you are using the Google Editor Suite.
● Give your template copy a unique file name so that you can easily find it and upload it for submission later, for
example, “Course 1_Case Study Assignment_YourInitials”.
● You can use this template as a shell to develop your case study assignment submission, or, if you prefer, as a
working document.
● Identify the customer story you have selected in the template sections indicated with “[ ]”, for example [Case
Study Customer], [Customer you selected], [SAP Customer Story URL], etc.
● Completed examples are shown for each step to get you started and provide a guide for the expected response.
● If this template copy will become your final assignment document, don’t forget to delete the instruction sections in
gray text and the highlighted starting point examples.
● Be sure to proofread your work so that it is ready to submit to the customer. ]

Task 1. Select a Case Study for your Assignment

[The first task is to choose a case study for your assignment from the SAP Customer Stories website. On this site,
you can search for customer stories by industry, company size, customer country, or the technology or SAP product
involved. Use the guidelines set out in the instructions to select a customer story that will help you get the most out of
your assignment. Use the table below to document the customer story you are selecting. To get you started, we’ve
provided some worked examples selected from the SAP Customer Stories website below.]

My work:

Customer Story: [NTT DATA],

[https://www.sap.com/asset/dynamic/2023/02/2eec6ffc-637e-0010-bca6-
c68f7e60039b.html]

Customer profile Digital transformation impacts

- Professional Services - US$250 million savings controllable spend
- Texas 2018-2021
- >190000 employees - 21% run rate-reduction 2018-2021
- 22.7% ratio of controllable spend to revenue

SAP solution technology areas Case study material includes

- SAP ARIBA SOLUTIONS - Growing supplier base
- SAP FIELDGLASS SOLUTIONS - Optimize cash flow
- SAP BUSINESS NETWORK - Unifying and standardizing procurement

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Example [Delete this section before assignment submission]

Customer Story Example: National Hockey League (NHL)

Additional sources:
Video
SAP Real Time Research Report

Customer profile Digital transformation impacts

- Sports and Entertainment Industry - Robust mobile/app access to game stats,
- Well-known and historic sports franchise (Stanley player data
Cup), players representing 20 countries - Improve the game experience for fans -
- 670 million fans at games, >190 million social coaches access real-time performance
media followers (fans) data to make decisions during games

SAP solution technology areas Case study material includes

- SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) - Videos, text-based information describing
- SAP Analytics Cloud SAP engagements
- SAP HANA - Key customer stakeholders insights
- Description of SAP Solution

Other examples of customer stories meeting the assignment criteria:

National Basketball Association (NBA)
Royal Greenland

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Task 2. Understand the customer and industry context
[In this task you’ll prepare for the engagement by researching the customer’s organization, technology landscape,
and industry context, using the customer story materials and other creditable sources. There are four activities to
complete:

● Activity 1: Identify five (5) macro business and technology trends impacting the customer’s industry. We’ve
provided some examples below. Use at least two sources to confirm the trends you are identifying.
● Activity 2: Describe two (2) motivations the customer may have for doing the project (the “why”)
● Activity 3: Identify three (3) business goals or outcomes the customer wants to achieve by doing the project
● Activity 4: Select two (2) analysis frameworks the project team could use to understand more about the
customer’s challenges or objectives and explain why you have selected them.]

Activity 1: Identify Business or Technology Trends in the Industry

My work:

Professional services Macro Trends:

1. Digital transformation
2. Cloud Computing
3. Data analytics and Insights
4. Sustainability and responsible sourcing
5. Remote work and workforce management

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Activity 2: Identify Customer Motivations
[In this activity you will describe two (2) motivations for the customer to do the project (the “why”). These drivers could
be associated with the industry trends you identified in Activity 1, other market pressures, the customer’s digital
transformation goals etc. Being able to identify the customer’s motivations will help you to articulate the value of the
SAP project to the customer’s business and stakeholders.]

My work:

In the NTT DATAcustomer story, the customer’s motivations are:

● Cost reduction
● Integration of acquisitions

Activity 3: Identify the Customer’s Business Goals

[In this activity, identify three (3) business goals or outcomes the customer wants to achieve by doing the project.

Hint: Typical business goals for a customer going through digital transformation might be:
● Reduce total cost of ownership of IT and business systems
● Improve customer response times or ‘stickiness’ (customer returns to purchase again)
● Reduce time or cost to complete transactions or access data
● Improve visibility and quality of decision-making data
● Improve customer engagement or remove roadblocks to interacting with customer
● Meet relevant compliance or quality guidelines (for example, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) data
privacy in the European Union, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements, International
Organization of Standardization (ISO) standards etc.)
● Reduce errors
● Improve integration with or retire legacy systems
● Improve recovery time to business as usual when a system goes down
● Automate processes
● Enhance security to prevent losses from hacks and attacks]

My work:

In the NTT DATA customer story, the customer’s business goals are:
● Enhanced supplier management
● Optimized cash flow
● Standardization of procurement processes

Activity 4: Identify Analysis Frameworks

[Recall that an analysis framework is a process or approach you can use to solve problems and design solutions. To
refresh your understanding of the analysis frameworks covered in this course, see Module 2, particularly Lessons 1
and 2.

(a) Select two (2) analysis frameworks you could use to understand more about the customer’s business goals and
challenges from the frameworks discussed in this course:
● Design thinking
● Systems thinking
● SWOT analysis model
● VUCA analysis model
● PESTLE analysis model
● Systems Diagrams (BPMN Notation)
● Six Sigma process analysis

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(b) Write a short paragraph explaining why you have selected these two (2) analysis frameworks. Asking yourself
the following questions could help develop your response: “What are the key elements of the framework?
What are the benefits of using it for this customer engagement? What will I uncover about the
customer’s environment by using these frameworks? Are there any analysis gaps or considerations
when using this framework?”

(c) Optional: complete a SWOT analysis for your customer story (if you have not already selected SWOT analysis
as one of your framework options above]

My work:

SWOT: The framework will, therefore, be an aid for the project team to point out strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the procurement processes of NTT DATA.
All these put together will provide insight into areas for improvement and strategic focus.
Porter's Five Forces Analysis: This framework will enable the team to study the procurement industry
structure-competitive forces such as supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, threat of
substitution, and threat of new entrants. The study will, therefore, enable NTT DATA to understand
the market dynamics and positioning towards strategic procurement.

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Task 3. Build your project team
[This task is about identifying and helping to build the ideal project team to deliver the implementation described in
the customer story you selected. There are four activities:
● Activity 1: Identify the role you have selected (for example, Technical, Functional, Data Analyst, Project Manager,
Business Process Consultant, or Architect) and why you have chosen it.
● Activity 2: Describe your key responsibilities and the skills or expertise you’ll bring to the project team
● Activity 3: Identify the other project roles and skills/expertise you think will be needed to deliver the SAP
implementation set out in the customer story and explain why
● Activity 4: Explain how the team you have identified will work together to deliver the SAP implementation set out
in the customer story you selected.]

Activity 1: Identify your role on the project team and why you have chosen it
[Identify the role you have selected (for example, Technical, Functional, Data Analyst, Project Manager, Business
Process Consultant, or Architect).]

My work:

I will be Business Process Consultant on the NTT DATA project team. I have chosen this role
because this position is critical in understanding and optimizing the procurement processes.

Activity 2: Describe the skills and expertise you’ll bring

[For the role you have selected, describe your key responsibilities and the skills/expertise you’ll bring to the team.]

My work:

As a [Role] I will work with the [Customer] team to understand….This could involve…

The key skills I will bring to the project are:

Key Responsibilities:
 Process Analysis: Analyze existing procurement processes to identify inefficiencies and
areas for improvement.
 Requirements Gathering: Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and document business
requirements for the SAP implementation.
 Solution Design: Design optimized business processes that leverage SAP solutions,
including SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass.
 Change Management: Facilitate change management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption
of new processes and systems.
 Training and Support: Develop training materials and provide support to end-users during
and after the implementation.
Skills/Expertise:
 Process Mapping: Proficient in mapping and modeling business processes to visualize
workflows and identify bottlenecks.
 SAP Knowledge: Familiarity with SAP solutions, particularly in procurement and supplier
management.
 Analytical Skills: Strong analytical skills to interpret data and make informed
recommendations.
 Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills to interact effectively with
stakeholders at all levels.
 Project Management: Experience in project management methodologies to ensure timely
delivery of project milestones.

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Activity 3: Identify the skill and expertise mix needed for the project
[Identify the other project roles and skills/expertise you think will be needed to deliver the SAP implementation set out
in the customer story and explain why.]

My work:

 Technical Consultant:
 Skills/Expertise: In-depth knowledge of SAP architecture and technical implementation.
Responsible for translating business requirements into technical specifications and ensuring
system integration.
 Reason: Essential for configuring the SAP solutions and ensuring they meet the technical
requirements of NTT DATA.
 Data Analyst:
 Skills/Expertise: Proficiency in data analysis tools and techniques. Responsible for
analyzing procurement data to identify trends and insights.
 Reason: Critical for ensuring data integrity and providing insights that drive decision-making
in procurement processes.
 Project Manager:
 Skills/Expertise: Strong project management skills, including planning, execution, and
monitoring. Experience in managing cross-functional teams.
 Reason: Necessary to oversee the project timeline, budget, and resource allocation,
ensuring that the SAP implementation stays on track.
 Change Management Specialist:
 Skills/Expertise: Expertise in change management methodologies and stakeholder
engagement strategies.
 Reason: Important for managing the transition to new processes and ensuring user adoption
of the SAP solutions.

Activity 4: How the team will collaborate
[Explain how the team you have identified will work together to deliver the SAP implementation set out in the
customer story you selected.]

The project team will work collaboratively through the following methods:
1. Regular Meetings: Weekly or bi-weekly meetings will be held to discuss project progress,
address challenges, and align on next steps. This ensures that all team members are
informed and engaged.
2. Cross-Functional Workshops: Workshops will be organized to facilitate collaboration
between the Business Process Consultant, Technical Consultant, Data Analyst, and other
roles. These sessions will focus on process mapping, requirements gathering, and solution
design.
3. Shared Documentation: Utilizing collaborative tools such as shared drives or project
management software (like JIRA or Trello) will enable team members to access
documentation, track tasks, and share insights in real time.
4. Feedback Loops: Establishing feedback loops will allow team members to provide input on
process designs and implementation strategies. This will help refine solutions based on
collective expertise and insights.
5. Training Sessions: The Business Process Consultant will work closely with the Change
Management Specialist to develop and deliver training sessions for end-users, ensuring that
the team is aligned on the objectives of the SAP implementation.

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Task 4: Develop an executive summary deck to present to the customer
[In this task, you’ll develop an executive summary deck to present your key findings as you would to a real customer.
Developing a deck is recommended as this is the most commonly used format on customer projects and a good
opportunity for you to practice your presentation skills. However, if you prefer, you can also present your work by
writing a short report precis (executive summary) setting out your key findings and recommendations.
● Create a new file in either MS PowerPoint or Google Slides to develop your deck. If you are writing a report
precis, use MS Word or Google Docs. You can select any design look and feel but consider that this is a
document that will be presented to a customer in a professional context. For a refresh on professional writing
skills, and working with Microsoft Office Suite, see Module 2 Lesson 3.
● Save the file to your local drives. Give your executive summary deck or report precis a unique file name so that
you can easily find it and upload it for submission later, for example, “Course 1_Project Submission
Deck_YourInitials”.
● Remember you are developing a summary, which means distilling the key points for your customer – ideally, it
should be no more than 5 slides or 1 page (~300 words) of written text. See the example outline below for an
executive deck
● Hint: To guide you, here are some tips on developing an effective deck:
o Follow the assignment structure – for example, develop an introduction slide setting out the SAP customer
story and implementation, and then use one slide per task, summarizing your key findings from each
activity only, close with a summary or next steps slide
o Use short simple sentences where possible
o Use subheadings and headings to organize and highlight your key points
o Include 5-7 points per slide only as this is the maximum information a typical audience retains at a time
o Create a logical story and add visuals where possible to engage with your audience
o Adopt a clean, professional design look and feel (for example, choose simple fonts, colors, etc. that are
readable and accessible)]

My work:

Slide 1: Title Slide

 Title: Executive Summary: NTT DATA's SAP Implementation
 Subtitle: Transforming Procurement for Enhanced Efficiency
 Date: [Insert Date]
 Presented by: [Your Name/Team Name]
Slide 2: Introduction
 Overview: This presentation outlines the key objectives, motivations, and expected
outcomes of NTT DATA's SAP implementation project, focusing on the transformation of
procurement processes.
Slide 3: Business Context
 Customer Profile:
o Industry: Professional Services
o Location: Texas
o Employees: >190,000

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  Digital Transformation Impacts:
o US$250 million savings in controllable spend (2018-2021)
o 21% run rate reduction (2018-2021)
o 22.7% ratio of controllable spend to revenue
Slide 4: Key Motivations for the Project
1. Cost Reduction: Achieve significant savings in controllable spend through optimized
procurement processes.
2. Integration of Acquisitions: Streamline the integration of new suppliers and financial
systems to maintain operational coherence.
Slide 5: Business Goals and Outcomes
1. Enhanced Supplier Management: Grow supplier base and improve risk management.
2. Optimized Cash Flow: Improve visibility into contracts and payments for better cash flow
management.
3. Standardization of Procurement Processes: Unify and standardize procurement
processes across global operations.
Slide 6: Project Roles and Skills
 Business Process Consultant: Process analysis, requirements gathering, and solution
design.
 Technical Consultant: SAP configuration and integration.
 Data Analyst: Data analysis and reporting for informed decision-making.
 Project Manager: Oversight of project timeline and resource allocation.
 Change Management Specialist: Facilitation of user adoption and training.
Slide 7: Team Collaboration Approach
 Regular Meetings: Weekly updates to discuss progress and challenges.
 Cross-Functional Workshops: Collaborative sessions for process mapping and
requirement gathering.
 Shared Documentation: Use of project management tools for real-time updates and access
to information.
 Feedback Loops: Continuous input from team members to refine processes and solutions.
Slide 8: Conclusion
 Summary: The SAP implementation project at NTT DATA aims to enhance procurement
efficiency, achieve significant cost savings, and integrate new acquisitions seamlessly.
Through collaborative efforts and strategic planning, the project is set to deliver substantial
value to the organization.
Slide 9: Call to Action
 Next Steps:

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 o Schedule initial stakeholder meetings to kick off the project.
o Begin detailed process analysis and requirements gathering.
o Establish a timeline for implementation phases.

Task 5: Record your presentation to the customer

Record a short video or audio track (3-4 minutes, .mp4 or .wav file) of yourself presenting your key findings and
recommendations to the customer. You will complete a self-evaluation check of your presentation in the project
submission. It is optional to upload the actual recording file. You can record the presentation on your phone or use a
more formal recording set-up if you wish. If you prefer not to appear on camera, record an audio track only.

Hint: To guide you, here are some tips for recording engaging videos or audio:
● Before you start, develop a high-level script or outline setting out what you need to cover, following the
assignment structure you built into your deck or precis
● Introduce yourself and the role you are playing on the project briefly then explain the purpose of the
presentation before going into detail
● Clear a space for your recording session with no distractions
● Speak clearly, not too fast
● If you’re recording a video, ensure you are in frame and that the camera is aligned with your face and body
position (for example, the camera is not pointing up your nose or cutting you off)
● Use a simple background so that the focus is on you, not your surroundings (for example, a wall or quiet
room)
● Do a few sample recordings first to test out your set-up and recording quality
● To assist you, try presenting to somebody off-camera

My work:

[I hate webcams so I will skip this, sorry]

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