The 50 Most Confused Concepts in SAP Project Management

Duygu Şener
Sep 21
6 min read

SAP project management concepts — The 50 Most Confused Concepts in SAP Project Management

SAP projects require tight integration between modules, methodologies, data structures, and roles. Due to this complexity, concepts are often confused in practice and frequently searched for online. Misusing terms not only causes communication issues but can also create serious risks in project planning, role assignments, and critical go-live activities.

In this guide, we cover the 50 most confused concepts in SAP project management with the reason for confusion, the correct understanding, and a practical example.

1. Methodologies and Project Approaches

SAP Activate vs. SAP ASAP

Reason for Confusion: Both are known as project methodologies.
Correct Understanding: ASAP is outdated and waterfall-based; Activate is agile-oriented and the current methodology.
Example: In ASAP, a Business Blueprint is prepared; in Activat,e Fit-to-Standard workshops are conducted.

Greenfield vs. Brownfield

Reason for Confusion: Both are S/4HANA migration approaches.
Correct Understanding: Greenfield → build from scratch; Brownfield → convert the existing system.
Example: A company with many customizations chooses Greenfield; one that wants to preserve processes chooses Brownfield.

Agile vs. Waterfall

Reason for Confusion: SAP’s history is strongly tied to the waterfall.
Correct Understanding: Waterfall delivers sequentially; Agile delivers in iterative sprints.
Example: ECC projects often follow the Waterfall; S/4HANA projects follow Agile.

Waterfall Deliverables vs. Agile Deliverables

Reason for Confusion: Both involve deliverables.
Correct Understanding: Waterfall produces heavy documentation; Agile delivers working software increments.
Example: Waterfall → 200-page blueprint; Agile → working screen at the end of a sprint.

2. Data and System Concepts

Master Data vs. Transaction Data

Reason for Confusion: Often mixed during data migration.
Correct Understanding: Master data are static records (customer, material); transaction data are daily business events (orders, invoices).
Example: A customer record is master data; the invoice issued to that customer is transaction data.

On-Premise vs. Cloud (S/4HANA)

Reason for Confusion: Both belong to the same product family.
Correct Understanding: On-Premise → hosted by the customer, unlimited customization; Cloud → SAP-managed, limited customization.
Example: Large enterprise chooses On-Premise; SME chooses Cloud.

SAP HANA vs. S/4HANA

Reason for Confusion: Similar names.
Correct Understanding: HANA is the database; S/4HANA is the ERP suite.
Example: Data queries run on HANA; sales orders run on S/4HANA.

DEV-QAS-PRD vs. Client

Reason for Confusion: System and client concepts overlap.
Correct Understanding: DEV-QAS-PRD are separate systems; Client is a partition within each system.
Example: In DEV, client 800 is for config; client 810 is for testing.

Client-Dependent vs. Client-Independent Settings

Reason for Confusion: All settings are assumed to be client-specific.
Correct Understanding: Client-dependent → applies only to that client; Client-independent → applies system-wide.
Example: Creating a user is client-dependent; adding a new field to a table is client-independent.

ECC vs. S/4HANA

Reason for Confusion: Both are called “SAP ERP.”
Correct Understanding: ECC is a legacy, multi-database ERP; S/4HANA runs only on HANA.
Example: ECC keeps FI and CO in separate tables; S/4HANA unifies them in ACDOCA.

3. Roles and Organization

FI vs. CO

Reason for Confusion: Often treated as a single “FI/CO” module.
Correct Understanding: FI handles statutory reporting; CO handles internal cost control.
Example: Tax returns from FI; product cost analysis from CO.

Project Manager vs. Business Analyst

Reason for Confusion: Both deal with requirements.
Correct Understanding: PM manages time/budget/resources; BA gathers and translates business needs.
Example: PM says, “Project ends in 6 months”; BA says, “Sales screen needs field X.”

Product Owner vs. Product Manager

Reason for Confusion: Roles vary across organizations.
Correct Understanding: PO manages backlog in Scrum; PM sets product vision and roadmap.
Example: PM: “We’ll expand to Europe”; PO: “Let’s build the payment module first.”

Basis Consultant vs. Functional Consultant

Reason for Confusion: All consultants assumed to do the same.
Correct Understanding: Basis handles infrastructure; Functional configures business processes.
Example: Basis installs server; MM consultant configures procurement.

Role vs. Profile (SAP Security)

Reason for Confusion: Both relate to authorization.
Correct Understanding: Role defines functions; Profile stores technical authorization objects.
Example: Assign “Sales Manager” role; behind the scenes, S_TCODE and others are in the profile.

4. Integration and Technology

IDoc vs. BAPI vs. OData

Reason for Confusion: All are known as integration tools.
Correct Understanding: IDoc is an asynchronous bulk transfer; BAPI is a synchronous API; OData is a REST/JSON web service.
Example: 10,000 invoices via IDoc; stock check via BAPI; mobile order via OData.

ALE vs. EDI

Reason for Confusion: Both are data transfer methods.
Correct Understanding: ALE synchronizes SAP-to-SAP; EDI exchanges commercial docs with external parties.
Example: ALE for ECC→S/4; EDI for vendor invoice.

Batch Input vs. BAPI

Reason for Confusion: Both load data.
Correct Understanding: Batch Input simulates screen entry; BAPI writes directly to business objects.
Example: Batch Input loads 10,000 customers; BAPI updates one record.

PI/PO vs. CPI

Reason for Confusion: Both are middleware.
Correct Understanding: PI/PO is on-premise; CPI is cloud-based.
Example: SAP–Oracle via PI/PO; Salesforce–SAP via CPI.

CDS View vs. HANA Calculation View

Reason for Confusion: Both are data models.
Correct Understanding: CDS is the ABAP-layer; Calculation View is the DB-layer in HANA Studio.
Example: Fiori connects to CDS; analytics dashboard to Calculation View.

5. Testing, Go-Live, and Support

Cutover vs. Go-Live vs. Hypercare

Reason for Confusion: All linked to go-live.
Correct Understanding: Cutover → preparation; Go-Live → system switch-on; Hypercare → post-go-live support.
Example: Data load = Cutover; Monday switch = Go-Live; 2-week support = Hypercare.

UAT vs. SIT

Reason for Confusion: Both are test types.
Correct Understanding: SIT is a system integration test; UAT is a business acceptance test.
Example: FI–MM check = SIT; user posts invoices = UAT.

Blueprint vs. Scope

Reason for Confusion: Both are project docs.
Correct Understanding: Scope defines boundaries; Blueprint details processes.
Example: Scope says “returns excluded”; Blueprint describes “sales order steps.”

Blueprint vs. Functional Specification

Reason for Confusion: Both called “design docs.”
Correct Understanding: Blueprint is high-level; FS is technical detail for development.
Example: Blueprint: “Sales approval flow”; FS: “Exit ZSD001 will be used.”

Hypercare vs. AMS

Reason for Confusion: Both are support services.
Correct Understanding: Hypercare is short-term, intense support; AMS is long-term application support.
Example: 2-week hypercare; 1-year AMS contract.

6. Modules and Solutions

SAP GUI vs. SAP Fiori

Reason for Confusion: Both are user interfaces.
Correct Understanding: GUI is classic desktop; Fiori is modern, web-based, mobile-ready.
Example: Accountant posts docs in the GUI; sales rep approves orders in Fiori.

SAP MM vs. SAP SD

Reason for Confusion: Both involve orders.
Correct Understanding: MM handles procurement; SD handles sales.
Example: Purchase order in MM; sales order in SD.

SAP PP vs. SAP APO/PP-DS

Reason for Confusion: Both handle production planning.
Correct Understanding: PP = basic planning; APO/PP-DS = advanced detailed scheduling.
Example: PP weekly plan; PP-DS machine-level schedule.

SAP WM vs. SAP EWM

Reason for Confusion: Both are warehouse management.
Correct Understanding: WM = basic ECC module; EWM = advanced warehouse in S/4.
Example: WM manages bins; EWM integrates with robots.

SAP BW vs. SAP BI

Reason for Confusion: Both in the reporting domain.
Correct Understanding: BW = data warehouse; BI = analytics/visualization.
Example: BW stores sales data; BI shows dashboards.

SAP APO vs. SAP IBP

Reason for Confusion: Both are planning solutions.
Correct Understanding: APO = legacy; IBP = cloud-based real-time planning.
Example: APO runs batch jobs; IBP calculates instantly on HANA.

SAP Ariba vs. SAP SRM

Reason for Confusion: Both manage procurement.
Correct Understanding: SRM = legacy on-premise; Ariba = modern cloud.
Example: SRM manages internal catalogs; Ariba connects to global suppliers.

SuccessFactors vs. SAP HCM

Reason for Confusion: Both are HR management.
Correct Understanding: HCM = ECC-based HR; SuccessFactors = cloud HR suite.
Example: Payroll in HCM; talent management in SuccessFactors.

SAP CRM vs. SAP C/4HANA

Reason for Confusion: Names sound similar.
Correct Understanding: CRM = legacy customer mgmt; C/4HANA = modern cloud CX suite.
Example: CRM tracks sales orders; C/4HANA manages e-commerce & social media.

SAP projects are not just technical implementations but also a matter of correct terminology. Misusing concepts can lead to planning errors, poor communication, and risky go-lives. This guide provides a reference for project managers, consultants, IT staff, and newcomers to navigate the 50 most confused concepts in SAP project management.

References

Axelsson, Jonas. SAP Activate Project Management Framework. Heidelberg: SAP Press, 2020.
Keller, Karl, and Sven Denecken. Transitioning to SAP S/4HANA. Walldorf: SAP Press, 2019.
Magal, Simha R., and Jeffrey Word. Integrated Business Processes with ERP Systems. 2nd ed. Hoboken: Wiley, 2019.
Mazzullo, Janet. Practical Guide to SAP S/4HANA Financial Accounting. SAP Press, 2020.
Smith, Rehgan. Agile Project Management for SAP. Berlin: Springer, 2021.
Taysi, İsmail. Agile Dünyasında En Çok Karıştırılan 10 Kavram. İstanbul: Self-Published, 2021.
von Rosing, Mark, Henrik von Scheel, and August-Wilhelm Scheer. The Complete Business Process Handbook: Body of Knowledge from Process Modeling to BPM. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2019.