Customising help in bought packages?

Subject: Customising help in bought packages?
From: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2004 09:15:58 -0400


Hanlie Pretorius wondered: <<The retail company I work for is moving from developing software to buying the software we need for our business. We're probably going to go for 'wall-to-wall' SAP. I was wondering whether any one else on the list has experienced thistransition and how did it affect your job?>>

I haven't gone through this myself, but a consultant friend reports that the buzz in the consultant community is that SAP is considered the "consultant income-security program". That's primarily for those who oversee the implementation--time-consuming and lucrative work--but I get a strong impression that enormous amounts of custom documentation and training are required to teach employees how to use the software once it's installed.

Perhaps this is something that could be tied in with ISO-9001 certification. If you're going to all the trouble to document all these new processes, why not get a nifty new certificate for your business at the same time?

<<We've been assured that no one here will lose their jobs, but I fear that even if this is true, the nature of my job might change to something I don't enjoy. Or perhaps it'll change to something I enjoy better!>>

There's an old cliche that every major scary change represents an opportunity in disguise. This may be true for you too; someone will have to teach all the employees how to use the software. If you enjoy that kind of work, maybe it's time for you to ponder a career transition--or at least a break from your regular job until the employee docs are done. (Careful, though: if they hire someone to replace you while you're working on the SAP docs, you want to be very sure your original job is waiting for you when you come back.)

--Geoff Hart ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)


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References:
Customising help in bought packages: From: Hanlie Pretorius

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