Run SAP is a methodology developed by SAP and IBM for end-to-end operations and support of SAP solutions. It provides best practices, content, services, education and tools for managing the full lifecycle of an SAP implementation from project setup through ongoing operations and optimization. The Run SAP methodology divides the lifecycle into five phases: assessment and scoping, design of operations, setup of operations, handover to production, and ongoing operations and optimization. IBM has integrated Run SAP into its Ascendant SAP implementation methodology to provide clients with comprehensive end-to-end support.

1. RUN SAP
Run SAP is the new method for end-to-end operations and support. Run SAP
provides the methodology for best practices, content, services, education, and
tools for end-to-end Solution Operations.
IBM, in partnership with SAP, uses the Run SAP methodology to provide end-to-end
support for end-to-end solutions. IBM partners with the client to develop the
solution and implements the Run SAP configuration and project methodology that
delivers the standards, tools, and processes. By applying the Run SAP
methodology by IBM to Solution Operations, our clients will benefit from best-
in-class operation support processes and tools with a number of key support
services. Run SAP by IBM means: One, Industry-independent E2E support for SAP IT
landscape; two, coverage for the entire solution life cycle; three, client
benefit from reduced risk and lower operation costs; four, established support
processes and tool standards facilitate increased transparency across the IT
landscape; five, aligned and integration with IBM’s Ascendant SAP methods, Run
SAP provides a complete offering for E2E support. Many of our large enterprise
clients plan to implement or have already implemented application management
life cycle tools from IBM that will complement the standard features provided by
SAP, for example, tools such as Tivoli® and Rational® ClearQuest®. These tools
work well in conjunction with the Run SAP tools. For the general business
customer, SAP Solution Manager will build the foundation for end-to-end
operations and support to manage their system landscapes, specifically with a
large SAP footprint.
RUN SAP benefits
increase in the avaulability and peformance of the SAP solution and enablement
of automation
mantain data consistency and transparency
reduce cost of operations
enablement of innovation
Run SAP methodology for end-to-end Solutions Operations is divided into five
phases. These are Assessment and Scoping, Design of Operations, Setup of
Operations, Handover into Production, and Operations and Optimization. By
leveraging the Run SAP operations methodology to deploy Solution Operations
standards, you can provide best-in-class end-to-end processes in line with
several key support areas. These support areas include Solution Documentation,
Change Request Management, and Incident Management. This approach will provide
increased transparency across the enterprise information technology landscape
and will extend to monitoring of business processes. The methodology can be
published in SAP Solution Manager and is available in the SAP Service
Marketplace for download.
Let’s now do a deep-dive into each phase of the Run SAP methodology. Let’s start
with the Assessment and Scoping phase. This phase includes the preparation phase
for the implementation of operations. The output of this phase is the definition
of the support processes that will need to be implemented. Two of the main
activities are to define the project setup and outline the governance model for
operations. Other relevant activities of the first phase include the
understanding of the business requirements for operations, for example,
determination of the enterprise mission-critical solutions and business
processes, which require 24 / 7 availability and the impact on system monitoring
and support levels. The next phase is the Design of Operations. In this phase, a
Business Blueprint is designed to outline the new or updated processes required
for a successful operation of the SAP solution. This includes strategies and
concepts for end-user support and incident management, change control management
including change request management, to enable the deployment, analysis, and the
test management encompassing functional, integration, and volume testing. Other
areas include application management with documentation standards, procedures
for Root Cause Analysis, and Remote Support basically connecting SAP Solution
Manager internal and to the SAP network as portal. The Design phase extends into

2. business process operations such as interface monitoring, data volume and
consistency management, and job scheduling. Finally, concepts will be developed
in areas of custom code development; technical operation, such as system
administration; and IT infrastructure, including access management, hardware,
storage, software, network, middleware, Internet, and desktop management. The
next phase is Setup of Operations. The purpose of this phase is to configure and
implement the end-to-end solutions as planned in the earlier phases. Similar to
the Realization phase of the Ascendant SAP method, the result is a configured,
implemented, and tested operations concept, as designed by the blueprint. Next
is the Handover into Production phase. This phase is the start of the operations
activities and consists of gate reviews and a checklist to ensure that all of
the end-to-end processes and tools are in place, have been successfully tested,
signed off, and transitioned into production. And finally, the Operations and
Optimization phase. The objective of this phase is to ensure the regular
operation of the business processes and the SAP solution landscape through a
support organization. Additionally, the focus will be on optimization and
improvement of the solution as well as the operation procedures and functions.
The Assessment and Scoping phase of Run SAP has been mapped under the Project
Preparation phase of IBM’s Ascendant SAP method. Project Preparation of IBM’s
Ascendant method includes the following work packages: Initial project planning,
project procedures, assessment and scoping for Run SAP; this has been added as
part of Run SAP integration, project kick off, technical requirements planning,
quality check, project preparation phase. The main activities for the Assessment
and Scoping phase of Run SAP are: Operational requirements analysis, scope
definition, technical requirements and architecture, project setup, governance
model for operations and solution transition to eSOA. The major Run SAP
deliverables for the Assessment and Scoping work package within IBM’s Ascendant
SAP method Project Preparation phase include: Operational requirements of the
solution, scope of SAP Solution Operations implementation, technical
architecture requirements, detailed project plan, governance model for
operations.
The Design of Operations phase of Run SAP has been mapped to the Business
Blueprint phase of IBM’s Ascendant SAP method. The Business Blueprint of IBM’s
Ascendant method includes the following work packages: project management
Business Blueprint phase, training for Business Blueprint, system environment,
business organization structure, business process definition, design of
operations for Run SAP; this has been added as part of Run SAP integration,
quality check Business Blueprint phase. The main activities for Design of
Operations for Run SAP are end-user support concept, change management concept,
application management concept, business process operations concept, custom
development management concept, technical operations concept, and technical
infrastructure design. The major Run SAP deliverables for Design Operations for
the Run SAP work package within IBM’s Ascendant SAP method Business Blueprint
phase include process definition documents for the SAP Solution Operations
standards, tools strategy, training plan, testing plan.
The Setup of Operations phase of Run SAP has been mapped to the Realization
phase of IBM’s Ascendant SAP method. The Realization phase of IBM’s Ascendant
method has the following work packages: Project management realization phase,
project team training realization phase, baseline configuration and
confirmation, system management, final configuration and confirmation, setup of
operations for Run SAP; this has been added as part of Run SAP integration.
Custom development, bolt-ons / enablers, authorization, archiving, data extract
and cleansing, data conversion dry run test, cutover test, final integration
test, end-user documentation and design, business process definition, quality
check realization phase. The main activities for Setup of Operations for Run SAP
are: end-user support concept, change management concept, application management
concept, business process operations concept, custom development management
concept, technical operations concept, and technical infrastructure design. The
major Run SAP deliverable for the Setup Operations for Run SAP work package
within IBM’s Ascendant SAP method Realization phase is a configured,

3. implemented, and tested solutions operations concept as designed in the “Design
of Operations“ phase. The following deliverables should also be prepared as a
part of this activity: Configuration document for each standard, integration
test specifications, integration test results.
Handover into the Production phase of Run SAP has been mapped to the Final
Preparation phase of IBM“s Ascendant SAP method. The Final Preparation phase of
IBM“s Ascendant method has the following work packages: Project management final
preparation phase, end-user training, system management, detailed project
planning, handover operations into production; this has been added as part of
Run SAP integration, Cutover. The main activities for Handover Operations into
Productions are: Knowledge Transfer training, Final Testing and Sign-off,
Handover and Go-Live of Operations. The major Run SAP deliverables for Handover
Operations into the Production work package within IBM“s Ascendant SAP method
Final Preparation phase include: Handover protocol, final testing protocol,
operation handbook; this contains description of each AMS process along with
support organization structure; roles and responsibilities; and governance
model. This document needs to be signed off by the right stakeholders.
Escalation procedures, Trained support team, sign-off of operations procedures
based on the SAP standards.
The Operations and Optimization phase of Run SAP has been mapped to the Sustain
phase of IBM“s Ascendant SAP method. The Sustain phase of IBM“s Ascendant method
has the following work packages: post Go-live activities, system tuning, post-
implementation review, archiving, systems operations (Run SAP activities added),
value realization (Run SAP activities added). The main activities for Operations
and Optimization are end-user support concept, change management concept,
application management concept, business process operations concept, custom
development management concept, technical operations concept, and technical
infrastructure design. These activities have been added under the Systems
Operations work package of the Sustain phase of the Ascendant SAP implementation
phase. Additionally, the Value Realization work package of Ascendant SAP
implementation method has been enhanced with Run SAP activity, Optimization. The
major Run SAP deliverables for Operations and Optimization work package within
IBM“s Ascendant SAP method Sustain phase include, Operations: End-user support,
monitoring and error handling for business processes and systems, management of
changes in the productive environment, stable business processes and systems,
management of large data volumes, optimization of performance of systems and
business processes, management of additional load in the systems. Optimization:
Review of existing operations processes; this includes identifying areas of
improvement or inclusion of new requirements to the existing processes, optimize
the usage of tools; this includes usage of enhanced functionalities, find
synergies that help to increase the performance of the organization.
The SAP Solution Manager enables remote support within the enterprise, providing
integration and support from technology and application providers. Run SAP will
extensively utilize SAP Solution Manager as the application management solution
that serves as the foundation and technology backbone for customers“ mission-
critical operations. For any incident, customers can use SAP Solution Manager to
provide SAP with the necessary information to expedite the support services
process. SAP Solution Manager not only functions as a document repository with
access to methodologies, the SAP application or IBM Industry Solution map, and
business process documentation, but it also includes features for test
management, change management for implementing enhancements, support packages,
Root Cause Analysis, and Service Desk. A range of functionality provides the
ability to trace and identify the source of an issue across the SAP system
landscape. SAP Solution Manager presents access to remote support through
integration to the SAP Service Marketplace. The SAP Service Marketplace is SAP“s
extranet for knowledge transfer to customers and partners. It includes SAP Notes
to document software errors and research recommended solutions (for example,
customizing settings), and the SAP Note Assistant, a tool to install specific
corrections and improvements to SAP components, providing capabilities to handle

4. the new SAP Enhancement Packages.