--- title: 10 BI Project Management Best Practice Tips description: Learn the difference between SAP BW Project Management and SAP ERP project Management using our deep BW experience and these top 10 tips image: https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-16622350-png/images/waterfall_process-resized-600.png --- ![Project Management Success](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-16622350-png/images/waterfall_process-resized-600.png) # 10 Tips for Achieving SAP BW Project Management Success Table of Contents ## **What You Need To Know About Managing SAP BW Projects** [**SAP BW Project Management**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-project-management), and more broadly, [**Business Intelligence Project Management (BIPM)**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-project-management/sap-bw-project-management) which includes [SAP Business Objects tools](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-businessobjects-bi-4-advanced-analysis-demo), such as xCelsius, [Webi](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-most-common-sap-data-warehousing-concepts), Data Integrator, [Data Services](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-improve-sap-profitability-management-the-ultimate-guide) and [Data Federator](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/9-epm-sap-strategy-management-how-to-best-practices-to-implement-now) (to name a few) is very distinct from [SAP R/3](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-to-nail-sap-partnership-management) or [SAP ECC Project Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-project-management-archived-2): - [**Deliverables**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/consulting-rate-calculator-whats-your-rate) for a [SAP BW project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/learn-more-about-our-sap-business-intelligence-consulting-services) are very **difficult to fully define** in advance.  Bill Inmon, widely acknowledged as the father of [datawarehousing](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/identifying-cause-of-data-load-error-when-using-a-sap-bw-dtp), had made note of this early on.  There are no time and motion studies on the **Logical Units of Work (LUW)** to fall back on.  At best, your [consultants](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/8-value-based-questions-for-real-estate-management-software-solutions) can give you a **guesstimate** (**WAG** or **SWAG**, your call). - **Multiple Go-Lives**.  [SAP  ERP implementations](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-set-the-scope-of-your-sap-refx-project) are either big bang, or small bang with several well planned (we hope) out [add-ons](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-center-of-expertise-sap-coe-approach).  [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/understanding-sap-bw-in-5-minutes) requires multiple Go-Lives.  - **SAP BW [Stakeholders](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-bw-tutorial-best-practice-on-stakeholder-management-plan)**, which you identify in both [methodologies](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/why-sap-value-management-is-the-key-to-unlocking-your-businesss-full-potential), tend to be far larger in number.  For instance, all of your [end users](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/12-sap-crm-content-management-system-requirements) are [stakeholders](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-sem-cpm-risk-register-design-template) and may number in the hundreds to thousands, or even more. - [SAP BW Project Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-your-sap-project-manager) may well be **part of another [project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-sap-certification-ought-to-work)**.  For instance, the [SAP ERP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-modules-in-5-minutes) implementation may be running at the same time.  In these cases, your timeline will frequently [be driven by](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/make-better-decisions-with-sap-profitability-and-cost-management) the [ERP implementation timeline](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-key-infrastructure-tips-for-sap-implementation-projects). - Our experience shows that you will need to follow a **waterfall [software development process](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/4-ways-to-bring-digital-innovation-to-your-company)**. ![Waterfall Process resized 600](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-16622350-png/images/waterfall_process-resized-600.png?width=329&name=waterfall_process-resized-600.png) - You will [need to set up](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/learn-7-key-approaches-to-developing-buyer-personas) a very finely designed **project folder systems**. ![Folder System BW Project Management resized 600](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-16559880-png/images/folder_system_bw_project_management-resized-600.png?width=596&name=folder_system_bw_project_management-resized-600.png)     ## Project Folder Structure    Your **folder structure** may vary [depending on your](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-important-is-data-governance-to-internet-marketing) particular [project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-bw-project-estimation-best-practices-to-roll-out-today). If [available, consider](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-change-request-template-change-management-asap-activate) using the SAP Portal to create a [team work](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/11-super-secret-service-level-agreement-techniques) area for project documents.   - **[End user](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/9-reasons-sap-bw-projects-fail-maybe) feedback** [will be](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/12-risk-management-considerations-to-measure-wricef-a) critical to your success.  They will be able to spot [data errors](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/data-quality-best-practices-for-effective-sap-bw-reporting) and bad [assumptions](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-use-a-project-charter-to-start-a-project) quicker than your team - Getting the [BW implementation **team mix**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/estimate-your-sap-bw-consulting-resource-needs-calculator-timer) right can be a [challenge](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-build-a-sap-sem-bps-retail-industry-value-case).  You need to make sure you have the [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-improve-sap-profitability-management-p2-the-ultimate-guide) skillsets onboard to avoid unnecessary [ABAP coding](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-bw-3.x-to-7.x-upgrade-service-productized-approach-proprietary-methodolgy). - [**Authorizations**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-grants-management) can be a very complex [sub-project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/learn-what-makes-sap-dfps-solution-different) in [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/70-of-business-intelligence-projects-are-failing-worldwide).  Your main issue here is making sure the [authorization model](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hire-sap-business-intelligence-consultant) is actually maintainable by the client.  - **Hardware[ sizing](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-data-migration-mistakes-to-avoid)**[ is not a one time task](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-data-migration-mistakes-to-avoid).  As your [SAP BW project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-steps-to-developing-a-successful-business-intelligence-strategy) progresses and as the [data volumes](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-best-practices-greenfield-implementations) grow, and the uses and [expectations](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-value-model-and-value-case) of the system expand, you will [need to revisit](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/what-do-sap-consultancies-do) this subject many times. - **Managing Chaos** goes hand-in-hand with a robust [**Naming Strategy**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/request-sap-bw-naming-conventions-review). ## [SAP BW Project Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-bw-3x-to-7x-upgrade-service-productized-approach-proprietary-methodolgy) Best Practices There are obviously plenty of other things to get right on a [SAP BW project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-to-uncover-sap-services-opportunities).  But we have found that these are the [critical few](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/12-warning-signs-your-epm-system-is-in-trouble).   [![Click me](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/e11e2ca3-9f28-4681-ba52-5e7fa0ee656c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/e11e2ca3-9f28-4681-ba52-5e7fa0ee656c)       Topics from this blog: [SAP BW Consulting](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/sap-bw-consulting) [Best Practices](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/best-practices) [Project Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/project-management) [BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/bw) [Data Services](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/data-services) ### Download SAP BW Mindmap Learn what SAP Business Warehouse is and what it does in under five minutes [![Get this Mindmap](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b) [mailto:someone@yoursite.com](mailto:someone@yoursite.com) ### Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP About the Author: Lonnie Ayers is a Hubspot Certified Inbound Marketing consultant, with additional certifications in Hubspot Content Optimization, Hubspot Contextual Marketing, and is a Hubspot Certified Partner. Specialized in demand generation and sales execution, especially in the SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Partner space, he has unique insight into the tough challenges Service Providers face with generating leads and closing sales using the latest digital tools. With 15 years of SAP Program Management experience, and dozens of complex sales engagements under his belt, he helps partners develop and communicate their unique sales proposition. Frequently sought as a public speaker in various events, he is available for both inhouse engagements and ** remote coaching. ** ![Balanced Scorecard Consultant](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Balanced%20Scorecard%20Certified%20Graduate.jpg) He also recently released a book **"How to Dominate Any Market - Turbocharging Your Digital Marketing and Sales Results",** which is available on [ Amazon.](https://www.amazon.com/Dominate-Turbocharging-Digital-Marketing-Results/dp/1728357950/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1589182458&refinements=p_27%3ALonnie+D.+Ayers&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lonnie+D.+Ayers)**** [View All Articles by Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) ## The SAP Blog Subscribe to our blog and receive SAP BW Updates, demand generation, inbound marketing, sales enablement, technology and revenue generation insights and ideas delivered right to your email. [mailto:someone@yoursite.com](mailto:someone@yoursite.com) ![SAP](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/960101754/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=199270410761059&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#blogposting", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "SAP BW", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAP_BW" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Project Management", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Success", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Success" } ], "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers#person" }, "description" : "Discover 10 essential tips for ensuring success in your SAP BW project management.", "headline" : "10 Tips for SAP BW Project Management Success", "inLanguage" : "en", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#webpage" }, "mentions" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "implementation", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implementation" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "project", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Agile", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development" } ], "name" : "10 Tips for SAP BW Project Management Success", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "ViewAction", "name" : "Get Project Support", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "actionPlatform" : [ "http://schema.org/DesktopWebPlatform", "http://schema.org/MobileWebPlatform" ], "inLanguage" : "en", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/SAP-BW-Consulting-Support" } }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" }, "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc.", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" }, "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#logo" }, "name" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc.", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/543163/admin/", "https://www.youtube.com/user/SAPBWConsulting/", "https://twitter.com/Lonniea39", "https://www.facebook.com/SAPBWConsulting" ], "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc. logo", "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sapbw-consulting.png?width=2847&name=sapbw-consulting.png" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers#person", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonnieayers/", "https://twitter.com/Lonniea39" ], "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers", "worksFor" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "breadcrumb" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#breadcrumbs" }, "description" : "Discover 10 essential tips for ensuring success in your SAP BW project management.", "headline" : "10 Tips for SAP BW Project Management Success", "inLanguage" : "en", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#website" }, "mainEntity" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#blogposting" }, "name" : "10 Tips for SAP BW Project Management Success", "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success#breadcrumbs", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-tips-for-sap-bw-project-management-success", "name" : "10 Tips for SAP BW Project Management Success", "position" : 3 } ] } ```