Job for Consultant: RE:[sap-career] From SAP to Oracle?

mardi 12 juillet 2011

RE:[sap-career] From SAP to Oracle?

Posted by Viet_Tran (Business Consultant & Sales Manager)
on Jul 12 at 12:09 PM

Dear Typewriter :
Dear Roy:

I do believe that both of you have at least a point of importance and if these two points can be combined that would be the best scenarios and professional outcome for Kate.

Point Number One Presented by Typewriter:
If Kate sits on her desk and fulfills the requirements of her position for ten years, she practically does the same things (with a little variety and/or modification) in the same environment (with a little variety and/or modification). Nothing is wrong with this picture. A large number of us would prefer to do the same thing the same way for the majority of time of their professional life. But if Kate wishes to expand her profession into another field like consultancy for example, she does need more and additional exposures in good and not so good environment because there is no warranty in life that she would not have to confront all the situations that are (at least in saying) uncomfortable to Kate. Be it functional (e.g. knowledge of SAP) be it personal in her soft-skill in dealing and handling the personal site of the profession of a consultant. It is a known fact that no ERP project, including SAP, must be declared and recognized as a fact: It is a failure after spending US $ XX millions, because of the capacity of any software package but because of short coming of the people involved. It certainly includes the consultants. Let me be clear (just to paraphrase Mr. Obama of the U.S.): On one of the major projects in the most economically powerful countries in Europe in 1989, the top management of second or third busiest international airport in Europe in that country completely change all the vehicle for the top management from Mercedes Benz to BMW overnight. Would you want to know the reason? (I would!) The reason is: The member of top management dislikes the top consultant personally and this consultancy company works closely with Mercedes Benz in other projects. (Do not forget a fact of importance: Manufacturers of luxury vehicles are willing to promote their products by placing them at the front line at no cost to the users. Marketing jargon: Indirect Product Placement)

Point Number Two Presented by Roy:
It is undeniable fact of the case presented: ten years of hand-on experience is rock solid for any career and if Kate wants to build on this foundation, the probability of success is almost a certainty. The level of success will solely depend on her additional input and if she wishes to expose herself to any other field in which inter and intrapersonal soft-skill is a necessity, she must be the owner of such.

Regards,

Viet Tran
Master's Degree in Business Administration
Master's Degree in Economics
Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
ERP Consultant
IBM System Programmer and System Analyst
Business Consultant

---------------Original Message---------------
From: Typewriter
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 6:23 AM
Subject: From SAP to Oracle?

Hi Roy,

An extract from your post -
"I do not know why the other guy criticized you for spending 10 years doing what you have been doing. "

If by "the other guy" you are referring to Typewriter, then -
1 - It was NOT a criticism, it was a question with an opinion. This followed from the flow of discussion between Kate_ & Typewriter; especially Kate_'s remark -
"Only thing is that my current position is still that of an end-user."

2 - If you read "the Best answer" (marked by Kate_) in that Typewriter emphasizes the fact that 10+ end-user experience is "BIG advantage"!
Extract from the Best answer -
"If I had 10+ years of end-user experience in SAP. I would keep focusing on SAP for a consultant position.
You have a BIG advantage, you have experienced SAP from a user's perspective, that is one of the key for being a good consultant. "

Did you read the "flow of posts" or did you just read a part of this thread?

Kate_,

My intention was to give good advice.

In order to give good & relevant advice, one needs to have clear understanding of "the recipient's / reciever's (of advice)" the way of thinking, likes/dislikes, strenghts&weakness and past experiences. Thus my questions and comments.

I felt that question had a purpose. It's answer could help in learning from the past, in order to add value in going ahead with your goal of becoming a SAP consultant. And ofcourse, your reply and Viet's reply added more value to understanding who to rely on (self) & what would be helpful (a mentor giving advice at the right moments of career progression).
Thus my conclusion is it was a helpful question!

If my question + opinion ("If I may say 10+ as end user it a bit too long, why did you not take the jump to consulting earlier?") came across as a criticism then please convey that to me.
It was NOT meant in that way.

As already mentioned, my intention was to give good and relevant advice. & to give motivation and positivity.

Regards,
Typewriter

__.____._