Preparing for the Project Team Interviews

The project team learning needs analysis (LNA) defines the learning needs for core members of IT and the project team, to propose learning paths for them to follow.  

The enablement lead identifies standard courses from the SAP curriculum and SAP Learning Hub content relevant for the SAP project team workstreams.

It is important for the project team to receive adequate enablement, to build their knowledge and understanding of the SAP solution. This helps to facilitate informed decisions during the design and build phases of the project and into business as usual (after the project goes live). For example, the core SAP project team should have sufficient knowledge to maximize their involvement in the fit-to-standard workshops. Thus, they will more effectively implement solutions that align with the project’s goals and overall business objectives.

The LNA delivery steps consist of:

Firstly, the enablement lead must carefully time the project team LNA, to ensure sufficient time to identify the key stakeholders to interview and arrange training. For example, in the 4S project, Grace checks when the fit-to-standard workshops are scheduled.

Then, the lead should review the project plan to make it clear when the LNA interviews and project team training must occur, to maximise efficiency in the project.

It is important that the learning required for each project workstream is aligned to the project scope. Review the project scope documents to determine the different functional project workstreams.  Creating project team learning paths per workstream will provide a clear view of what enablement is required.

The enablement lead then schedules and conducts the interviews with specific project workstream leads, to review the suggested courses to attend and self-study enablement content to complete.

Once all the interviews have been conducted and the curricula confirmed by the workstream leads, the LNA report can be finalized and shared with the project team for review and approval. The LNA report should outline the knowledge gaps and recommended learning path for target groups, including the selected SAP training courses and delivery methods.

When the LNA report has been approved, the enablement lead can start scheduling the project team training, in good time, before the fit-to-standard workshops commence.

The LNA interviews are important. As enablement lead, you need to build up a relationship with your key stakeholders early in the project. Arranging LNA interviews enables you to effectively engage with stakeholders, understand their training needs and expectations, and align with the overall objectives of the SAP project.

Consider who you should be interviewing, but also, who you are reporting the LNA results back to. These may be slightly different stakeholder groups.

Typical roles that are interviewed during an LNA process:

Typical roles to present the LNA to:

As an enablement lead, you must discern and use the correct sources of information.

Grace will now arrange interviews with the workstream leads, before planning and booking the project team training.

Grace sends the following email to the functional workstream leads on the 4S project to forewarn them about the LNA process to come.