SAP/ERP Development Teams - Building a Technology Focused Culture.

Introduction:

Let's get real: having a top-of-the-line technology stack won't get you far if your development team supporting your SAP ERP implementation doesn't have a technology-focused culture. That's why I'm passionate about the topic of building such a culture in your SAP or ERP team. Without a team culture that prioritizes technology, your investment in advanced tools and platforms will go to waste, and you'll be left with the same old tired looking products utilizing older technology stack. To avoid that scenario, it's crucial to invest in building a technology-focused culture. In this blog post, I'll share some key strategies for doing just that.

SAP's context:

When it comes to SAP, consider your development team. They've accumulated years of collective experience working with ABAP. However, in the new world order, the industry demands the use of newer technologies such as SAP Fiori, SAPUI5, oData services, CDS, RAP/CAP model, and BTP to name a few. Unfortunately, your organization's culture is still heavily focused on ABAP and continues to pressure your developers to think in those terms alone. This mindset must shift, and the organization must embrace newer technologies to remain competitive and relevant in the current market.

While I have a background in SAP, I will keep the remainder of this blog generic, as this situation applies to other ERP development teams as well.

Vision through a Visionary:

When it comes to building a technology-focused culture in your SAP/ ERP development team, the first step is to create a compelling vision that inspires and motivates everyone to work towards a common goal. Without a clear vision, your team may lose direction, struggle to prioritize their efforts, and fail to leverage the full potential of your advanced technology stack.

But vision alone is not enough. You also need a leader who is passionate about technology and has a deep understanding of the development process, even if they are not a developer themselves. This leader should be someone who can rally the team around the shared goal of solving problems in innovative ways, using cutting-edge tools and technologies.

This leader should be a visionary, a trailblazer, someone who can inspire and motivate the team to reach new heights. They should be able to communicate the team's focus on technology and make it clear that this is a top priority. They should encourage the team to take risks, try new things, and learn from their mistakes.

In short, building a technology-focused culture in your SAP or ERP team requires a strong vision and a leader who can bring that vision to life. With the right vision and the right leadership, your team can achieve great things and make a real impact in your organization.

Get Everyone onboard:?

The next crucial step in building a technology-focused culture is to get everyone on the same page, not just the developers. Your development leader needs to be a persuasive communicator who can rally the troops and get the higher-ups to buy into the vision. When the whole organization is united behind the idea of driving innovation and harnessing cutting-edge technologies, your developers can focus on what they do best: developing badass solutions that set your company apart from the competition.

But let's be real, it can be frustrating for developers to explain the hours they need to research and learn new skills. That's why it's important to get everyone on board with the idea of a technology-focused culture. When the business understands the importance of staying ahead of the curve, it becomes easier to justify the investments necessary to stay at the forefront of your industry. With the whole organization working together, your developers can focus on building awesome products that make a real impact.

Building a COE:

Moving on to the next step: building a COE or R&D group within your development team. This is absolutely crucial for building and maintaining a strong technology-focused culture. Why? Well, for one thing, it sends a clear message to everyone that you're not just talking the talk, you're walking the walk. It also means that you're putting your money where your mouth is, and dedicating real time and resources to an important part of a technology-focused culture: research and development.

And building a COE also means that your team will have the chance to explore and experiment with new tools and technologies beyond their normal development assignments. This is important for keeping everyone engaged and inspired, and for making sure that you're always pushing the boundaries of what's possible. You can structure your COE in many different ways, but I recommend a structure that allows all developers to participate. Form small teams or pairs to focus on specific areas, and get team members from functional teams involved so they can not only participate, but also create excitement for the rest of the team.

The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to building a COE, and it's a win-win for everyone. By dedicating time and resources to research and development, you'll be setting your team up for success and keeping everyone engaged and excited about the work they're doing.

Keeping the Team Happy:

A happy team is a winning team, amigo. If you want to create a team that thrives on the cutting edge of technology, you gotta keep your team happy. And let me tell ya, you need a leader, not a pencil-pushing manager, to make it happen. A true leader who speaks the language of developers and understands the artistry that goes into development work.

So how do you keep your team happy? Well, first and foremost, you gotta show them some love. A little appreciation goes a long way in boosting morale. And you gotta keep an eye on the workload, too. No one wants to be overwhelmed with deadlines and demands. But it's not just about the workload, it's also about asking the right questions, being engaged, and showing interest in what they're doing. And let's not forget the power of fewer meetings - everyone loves that. So, bottom line, make sure your developers are happy and they'll make you proud.

Investing in Career Growth and Development:

If you want to build a team that really knows their tech stuff, you gotta invest in their training and development. That way, your developers can stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest technologies. But don't just stick to the same old crowd - make sure you've got a diverse talent pool with folks who know their stuff when it comes to the newest tech out there. That way, you'll be ready for whatever comes your way.

In many traditional organizations, developers often find themselves lost in a labyrinth of ambiguous job titles and undefined career paths. This is especially true for those working on ERP teams. It's important to create a clear and well-defined career path for developers, one that shows them the value of their work and the opportunities for growth and advancement. Without this, developers can become frustrated and lose motivation, and may even look for opportunities elsewhere.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, building a technology-focused culture is vital for modern organizations that want to stay competitive and deliver innovative products and services. A leader who understands development and can create a vision for the team is essential. Bringing everyone onboard and investing in training, research and development, and career development is crucial. It is also important to create a COE center of excellence to show the team that the organization is serious about this culture. Keeping the team happy, providing a clear career path, and avoiding labeling developers with titles used for other jobs is also important. By following these principles, organizations can create a culture where developers can learn, experiment, and innovate, leading to the success of the team and the organization as a whole.