Sap Mentor Initiative Introduction

SAP Mentor Initiative Introduction created by Mark Finnern

Marketing Guru Seth Godin in Tribes

Most organizations spend their time marketing to the crowd. Smart organizations assemble the tribe.*

* Page 30 in Tribes . We need you to lead us.

Whom do our Prospects and Customers trust?

From Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technology by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff. Please check full chart and details . Copyright 2008 Forrester Research Inc.

Who are these experienced peers of our customers and prospects? SAP Mentors! Design courtesy of SAP Mentor Oliver Kohl

What is the SAP Mentor Initiative? © SAP 2007 / Page

The SAP Mentor initiative identifies and provides special status and access to exceptional and high-value members of our SAP Developer Network (SDN), Business Process Expert (BPX) and Business Objects (BOC) communities.

They are the top 0.0001% of SDN, BPX and BOC Members. More at: https://sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/sapmentors

Who is an SAP Mentor?

Hands-On Expert in an SAP Product or Service

Collaborative attitude

Active in SAP's communities or related areas

Good communicator

Preferably working at a partner or customer of SAP Interested in improving SAP products and services

Interested in improving the relationship of SAP with its customers, partners, and prospects

See the current list of SAP Mentors at https://sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/sapmentors

Benefits for SAP Mentors

Recognition as an SAP accredited expert

Icon next to their name in the SDN, BPX, and Business Objects forums and Business Card

Invitation to SAP events: Sapphire, ASUG Conferences, SAP Tech Tour, SAP World Tour

VIP Access to SAP Information and Executives

Part of press and analyst briefings during Sapphire and SAP TechEd

Exclusive meetings with SAP executives including: Zia Yusuf, Herve Couturier, Vishal Sikka …

Private SAP Mentor forum accessible only to SAP Mentor and SAP employees: Enables a frank and open discussion

Private SAP Community Network Wiki Space

Free entry to the SAP TechEd

Direct Access to SAP Product Management and SAP Development in their area of Expertise

Benefits for SAP

Direct communication with some of the most important and credible SAP-oriented technology influencers in the market

Give SAP Mentors early access to products and solutions for them to communicate to their network – as multipliers and opinion leaders

Gain access to the direct experiences of the SAP Mentors with our solutions in the market: their influence of development can result in better solutions, broader adoption, and faster market ramp-up

One highly energized SAP Mentor typically drives >100 high-impact impressions

Mentors are multipliers and accelerators

Mentors are sources of honest and independent feedback based on their vast experience, deep expertise, and broad network of other customers and partners

While independent, most are strong SAP advocates who want us to succeed together

SAP Mentor Initiative: Benefits for SAP Line of Business Sponsors

Direct access to top SAP Expert for high signal conversations

Feedback sessions + Quick sync at critical moments of development

SAP Mentor status gives them a megaphone for ramp-up and roll-out activities

Local Community Activities driven by SAP Mentors (See: Community Events )

We ensure that SAP Mentors attend and participate in key events

SAP TechEd (free entry for every SAP Mentor)

SAP Sapphire / ASUG Conferences

SAP TechTour stops in their region

Access to and influence of key SAP executives

Special SAP Mentor sessions with execs during events

SAP TechEd Berlin SAP Mentor meet with EVP SAP Technology Herve Couturier (picture)

Picture taken by Amir Blich for SAP Mentor Gregor Wolf .

Example of SAP Mentor Influence: SAP Mentor Anne Katherine Petterøe Norway

Facebook changes Terms of Service: We own all of your content even if you leave our site.

SAP Mentor Anne Katherine Petterøe starts Facebook group: People Against the new Terms of Service (TOS)

She invites all of the SAP Mentors to join. They forward her invitation to their friends.

Dennis Howlett from ZDNet picks it up and blogs: Here , here , here , and here .

Wolf Blitzer on CNN picks up the story.

Within days her group tips has now over 130K members (There were other groups created, but they didn’t get traction.)

Facebook goes back to their old Terms of Service

Anne had radio interviews, was on national TV , article in New York Times, …

Sample Twitter influence: Jim Spath @jspath 5 Re-Tweets(RT) within 1 hour Original Tweet Re-Tweet Re-Tweet Re-Tweet Re-Tweet Re-Tweet

SAP Mentor Michal Krawczyk sample code makes it into SAP Standard delivery

SAP Mentor Michal Krawczyk develops and blogs about an extension to SAP’s standard code: XI/PI: sender IDOC adapter packaging ?

SAP development sees it and contacts Michal

They talk, the code sample is shared and with some modifications integrated into SAP NetWeaver 7.0 SP1

Video of Michal telling his story

Michael Krawczyk at TechEd Vienna 2007

SAP Mentor Selection Process

Following Process happens 3x a year (Target: Early Mai for Sapphire, August for TechEds, Year end)

Blog post asking for nominations ( example November 2008 )

Internal email campaign to reach key people within SAP.

Suggestions are collected and tallied. Extra points for nominations from SAP Mentors.

Little expose is created for every nomination: Area of expertise, Industry if applicable, ...

Possible Mentors are discussed with the Collaboration Team

Final list is being shared with CN Management team.

New SAP Mentors are announced publicly via blog post

SAP Mentors are welcomed in person over the phone, via a welcome package and a webinar that introduces them to their new role.

People start to realize SAP Mentor’s Reach within the SAP Ecosystem

Lighter side of the SAP Mentor Initiative SAP Mentor Blag creates Comics around it

Courtesy of Alvaro Tejada Galindo and his Blagbert Comics

Forester Research: Best Practice Innovation Initiative

Four Essential Components Of Successful Innovation Initiatives by Chris Andrews from Forester Research April 2, 2009

SAP has elevated its community development into an entire practice within the company, and it allows the most dedicated members of its community direct access to senior management to provide feedback on products, services, and strategy. This is a best practice that Forrester believes will become common over the next decade as more companies realize that while community development can be difficult to manage, it may be the best way to stay customer focused and relevant in a rapidly changing competitive environment.

* Highlights are mine

Join Us and our SAP Community Network Mark Finnern Chief Community Evangelist SAP Community Network http:// bpx.sap.com http://sdn.sap.com http:// boc.sap.com T 650-849-4079 E [email_address] Twitter: finnern