IS 466 ADVANCED TOPICS IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS LECTURER : NOUF ALMUJALLY 3 – 10 – 2011 College Of Computer Science and Information, Information Systems Department

Objectives  SAP AG  SAP R\3 Architecture  SAP R\3 Basics  SAP Modules 2

SAP 3 Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP) Name of the company SAP AG SAP America SAP America is a subsidiary of SAP AG Name of the software SAP R/2 – Mainframe version SAP R/3 – Client/Server version

SAP AG 4 Founded in Germany (1972) World’s fourth largest software provider World’s largest provider of Integrated Business Solutions software

SAP R/3 5 World-wide usage Designed to satisfy the information needs for business sizes (small local to large all international) Multi-lingual Multi-currency Designed to satisfy the information needs for all industries (industry solutions)  Hospital  Manufacturing  Chemical  Government

SAP R/3 6 Enables a company to link it’s business processes Ties together different business functions (integrated business solution) Helps the organization run smoothly Real-time environment

Architecture 7 Central relational database (e.g., Oracle, Microsoft SQL and many others) Client/Server – (three-tiered) ERP business modules (FI, MM, SD, CO, PP, HR) Add-ons: Customer Relationship Mgmt (CRM) Supply Chain Mgmt (SCM) Product Lifecycle Mgmt (PLM)

Relational Database SAP Overview 8 Tables: Defines and links thousands of tables of information Advantages Consistent and accurate data Common definitions for terms Shared, but restricted usage Eliminates data redundancy

Client/Server Environment Client Software/hardware combination that can make a request for services from a central repository of resources Server Software/hardware combination that can provide services to a group of clients in a controlled environment

Client Process The client is a process (program) that sends a message to a server process (program), requesting that the server perform a task (service). Client programs usually manage the user-interface portion of the application, validate data entered by the user, dispatch requests to server programs, and sometimes execute business logic. The client-based process is the front- end of the application that the user sees and interacts with. The client process also manages the local resources that the user interacts with such as the monitor, keyboard, workstation CPU and peripherals.

Server Process A server process (program) fulfills the client request by performing the task requested. Server programs generally receive requests from client programs, execute database retrieval and updates, manage data integrity and dispatch responses to client requests. Sometimes server programs execute common or complex business logic.

12 Three-tier Client/Server Architecture USER PCs Application Server Application Server Application Server Application Server Database Server

Two Tier Client/Server System 13 User PCs Database and Application Server

Basis System: Three-Tier Computer Hierarchy Input / Output of data to users Access to Database: (Read / Write data) Central Database (Storage of all data) Database Application Presentation Processing of data using application logic Presentation of the processed data to the user

SAP Enterprise System Database Application Presentation Browser Client PCs, Laptops, etc. Network Application Servers Internet Transaction Server Web Server

Three-Tier SAP Structure In a three ‑ tier configuration, you use your own host for the three tiers. Using data from the database server, several different application servers can operate at the same time. To ensure that the load on individual servers is as even as possible and to achieve optimal performance, you can use special application servers for individual application areas such as sales planning, distribution or financial accounting.

Three-Tier SAP Structure To web ‑ enable the SAP Applications, a Web Server and an ITS (Internet Transaction Server) are needed. The web ‑ service and the services for the ITS can run on one server or on two dedicated servers. The presentation in this configuration is provided by an Internet Browser. The new SAP Web platform is NetWeaver.

SAP R/3 Basics

Instance – each install of the SAP R/3 software on an individual application server Configurable – each instance can be particularly configured to fit the needs and desires of the customer (within limits) Most of the infrastructure decisions, including configuration decisions, occur during project implementation

Configuration The process of tailoring SAP software by selecting specific functionality from a list of those supported by the software, very much like setting defaults (e.g., Word, Access) DOES NOT involve changes to the underlying software code

Programming Code Modifications Changes to the delivered code ABAP/4 – Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP) If you change the code, SAP will no longer support you. This should be done carefully as it can make migration to new versions of the software much more difficult

SAP R/3 Document Principle Each business transaction that writes data to the database creates a uniquely numbered electronic document Each document contains information such as Responsible person Date and time of the transaction Commercial content Once created, a document can not be deleted from the database

SAP Organizational elements and Modules

SAP ERP Modules 24 R/3 FI Financial Accounting CO Controlling PS Project System WF Workflow IS Industry Solutions MM Materials Mgmt. HR Human Resources SD Sales and Distribution PP Production Planning QM Quality Mgmt. PM Plant Maintenance SM Service Mgmt. Client / Server Integrated Business Solution EC Enterprise Controlling AM Fixed Assets Mgmt.

Business Modules 25 Collections of logically related transactions within identifiable business functions MM (“Buy”) PP (“Make”) SD (“Sell”) FI and CO (“Track”) HR

Business Process Integration FI MM SD Org Data Rules FI MM SD Master Data FI MM SD FISD MM

Logistics Materials Management (MM) Sales and Distribution (SD) Production Planning (PP) Quality Management (QM) Plant Maintenance (PM) Service Management (SM)

Accounting and Finance Financial Accounting (FI) Controlling (CO) Enterprise Controlling (EC) Fixed Asset Management (AM) Project Systems (PS)

Human Resources Human Resources (HR)

Questions ?? 30