Podcasts about how sap

While visiting the SAP global headquarters in Walldorf, Germany, ASUG CEO & Chief Community Champion Geoff Scott recently sat down with Andre Bechtold, President of SAP Industries & Experiences. As the software company looks to spur continued innovation, Bechtold focuses on building memorable customer experiences. Through his work with the SAP Experience Centers, Bechtold helps SAP embrace new, cutting-edge practices to help their customers meet modern challenges. During this conversation, Scott and Bechtold covered: ·      How SAP approaches technology innovation ·      Bechtold's thoughts on leveraging AI to assist with upskilling and reskilling ·      Building the next generation of SAP professionalsBe sure to check out these ASUG resources to stay up-to-date on what's going on around the SAP ecosystem: ·      ASUG coverage of the SAP Q1 2025 financial results: Despite uncertain economic conditions, SAP CEO Christian Klein touted key growth in total revenue and cloud revenue. Read our full coverage—and what it means for SAP customers. ·      ASUG and SAP Integration Research: This collaborative project examined how respondents approach developing and enacting integration strategies. Overall, the research teams found that ASUG members are devoting necessary resources to jumpstart integration practices at higher rates. Learn more. 

Jeremy Reeves of Relish & Matt Montgomery of SAP talk about how technology can automate supplier data validation and mitigate risk; our data end games; & AI.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.15] Introductions to today's guests and what they do. [08.59] An overview of the landscape of supplier data and the challenges of validation. “Supplier management needs to be thought of as the foundation for everything. It's the knowledge that you need to have for every single decision you're making.” “As we look at solutions and talk about supplier data, we can't just talk about ‘company name and address.' We have to think: What do you need to know to make the choice to use that supplier, to make a better decision, to streamline processes? … How do you collaborate and drive efficiency so you can spend more time on the good decisions versus data collection?” [13.25] The supplier data end game – what supplier data should look like, and what it should do for their businesses, if organizations have the right solutions to their challenges. “Speed and efficiency are the name of the game.” [17.11] How businesses should be measuring and validating supplier data, and the different techniques and strategies they can use to do it. “You first have to understand where the problems are lying within the overall process, so measuring that information is key.” [20.52] The role of technology in automating the supplier data validation process. “Speed becomes a competitive differentiator.” [23.26] Whether process drives technology, or technology drives process. “Technology can really optimize that knowledge of region, industry, commodity, business unit… but as much as the technology can optimize, it becomes much more efficient when you can trust the data source.” [28.27] How technology can help suppliers be active participants in the risk management process. [32.51] The hidden prevalence of AI; where the industry is at on its AI journey; and what the future of supplier data validation and risk mitigation is going to look like. “The term is overused – it means everything! People think Siri, ChatGPT – people's perception of AI is the microcosm of how they're experiencing it.” [36.53] How SAP and Relish are automating supplier data validation, and what we can learn from their approach. [43.44] The future for Relish and SAP, and for the industry, as we look towards 2025. “The ability for technology to automate the speed of development – we're going to see a lot more capabilities, delivered faster.”  

How SAP software is helpful manufacturing companies and it make easy production process and time, cost saving.

On this episode of The Six Five – Insiders Edition I am joined by Julia White, SAP's Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Marketing for a conversation around digital cloud, ERP and other SAP solutions.   My conversation with Julia revolved around the following: Julia's observations on SAP over the last year An overview of SAP's "Always on" innovation How SAP is focusing on sustainability How SAP is getting customers to come along on their innovation journey If you'd like to learn more about SAP visit their website. And don't forget to subscribe to The Six Five webcast so you never miss an episode.

In this replay of one of our classic episodes, Sandra Sussman of SAP describes how they are able to offer an ESPP with a 40% match, offer financial assistance to help nonexecutives participate, and solve the challenge of tax withholding at the same time.Episode Notes:SAP's path to the Own SAP plan (1:55)How Own SAP works (3:30)The 40% Match and 20 Euro subsidy (4:45)How SAP manages tax withholding on the plan (5:57)Administering the plan (7:08)Participation in the plan (8:26)Other Resources on This Topic:Blog: Solving the Challenges of a Global ESPPBlog: Four Ideas to Make Your ESPP More EquitableBlog: Could Fractional Shares Benefit Your ESPP ParticipantsVideo: ESPP Design: Match vs. DiscountVideo: Let's Talk About Equity Rights, Equality, and ESPPsSupport the show (http://naspp.com/membership)

On this special episode of the Futurum Tech Podcast – Interview Series I am joined by Jennifer Baldwin, Utilities NA Industry Executive Advisor for SAP Industries and Mark Davis, Director, Enterprise Data Management Solutions at Intel. This is the sixth episode in a new series — done in partnership with SAP and Intel — where I will be speaking with advisors and executives across seven different industries on the state of their industry and how SAP Industry Cloud powered by Intel technology plays a vital role in the future.   The Future of the Utilities  Industry   In our conversation we discussed the following:   A recap of the last year in the industry including how COVID has impacted key trends Challenges that utilities organizations are facing with their assets How organizations are using technologies like AI and machine learning How SAP and Intel are working together to help these organizations continue to advance   The Utilities Industry, like many other industries, had to rapidly accelerate digital transformation last year. My conversation with Jennifer and Mark explores these changes and a little bit more. It's definitely one you don't want to miss.   If you'd like to learn more about the industry cloud and the Intelligent Enterprise strategy, be sure to check out our research brief: How Utilities Can Better Meet Customer Demands and Industry Challenges and Stay Abreast of the Competition by Focusing on Proactive, Data Driven Business Models.

Michael is chatting today with Eamonn O’Neill, the founder and EVP at Lemongrass Consulting. This company focuses on helping customers get their SAP on AWS, which makes for a really interesting conversation topic.In this episode, we talk about…Eamonn’s career journey and how he has moved from a more technical role to a more business-minded role.How Eamonn was at the forefront of SAP adoption back in the 90s and has stuck with that technology over the decades.How SAP is a German-based software company that has made its name based around the ERP concept and which has recently broadened into SaaS operating.The importance of automation services and how Lemongrass focuses on both efficiency and quality for their customers.The role that Azure plays in the world.How and why Eamonn got into tech and why he believes it’s important to know the technical side of what you’re doing, even if you’re a project manager or entrepreneur in the field.How to proceed and what to look for if you’re interested in getting into SAP. However, the market is pretty saturated unless you’re also a programmer and/or infrastructure aware.New use cases for SaaS.Links to resources:Eamonn O’Neill: Twitter |LinkedInLemongrass ConsultingMichael Levan: TwitterJoin the Cloudskills CommunityMake sure to subscribe to our mailing list at cloudskills.io/subscribe for weekly updates, exclusive training, and advice on how to amplify your career.

This special episode of the Experiences Per Mile podcast is guest hosted by Jeffrey Hannah, Director of North America at SBD Automotive and co-facilitator of the Experiences Per Mile Advisory Council.   Jeff is joined by Bill Newman, Chief Industry Executive Advisor at SAP and fellow member of the Experiences Per Mile Advisory Council. Bill is a seasoned executive across many manufacturing domains and professional services with over 30 years of experience in strategy, planning, and business transformation. During the discussion, Bill shares how CRM software solutions can unlock a winning automotive consumer experience.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Bill explains what Experiences Per Mile means to him [3:10] Why SAP decided to join the EPM Advisory Council [3:51] How SAP has embraced the notion of the experience economy [5:28] Bill talks about his role at SAP [8:34] Bill shares recent changes he has noticed in the market [9:55] Why the emotional response in a driver’s experience is the most powerful [11:58] How acquisitions due to COVID-19 will affect the consumer experience [13:44] How the SAP business model fits into the CASE approach [14:56] The opportunity for vehicle data monetization [17:33] How SAP is ensuring consumer data remains private and safe [19:40] Global Data Protection Rights (GDPR) for the vehicle [22:39] SAP can help companies determine how to start digitizing and modernizing operations   Sponsors Brought to you by HARMAN   Mentioned in this episode: Experiences Per Mile Advisory Council SAP Software Solutions   Tweetables: The success of a company is more than the sum of its goods and products, it includes its people and experiences. #ExperiencesPerMile #technology #experience #automotive #HARMANConnectsMe #TheBestRun   There are three key drivers to great customer experience in automotive: success, effort, and the emotional piece. #ExperiencesPerMile #technology #customerexperience #TheBestRun   The emotional piece in the driver’s experience is the most powerful because when it is positive, it motivates the individual to repeat the experience. #ExperiencesPerMile #technology #customerexperience #automotive   The experience of acquiring transportation is more than just financial; it is directly attached to the driver’s emotional effect. #ExperiencesPerMile #technology #customerexperience #emotion  

In this episode, Marcus interviews Roopesh Panchasra, Global Head of Executive Recruiting and Employer Branding, Vice President at SAP. Roopesh details how he and his team approach the multi-faceted challenge of finding great talent at SAP, from designing better candidate experience to building out a high-tech talent intelligence operation. He also examines the key differences between in-house and agency recruiting. COVID’s EffectsWith the events of early March and global lockdowns, Roopesh and his team had to remain agile and creative to continue their consistent operation. Nobody was laid off in RP's division. This agility and creativity led Roopesh to reevaluate his assumptions on the ideal assessment of candidates, learning that video can be relied upon. What you’ll learn in this episode[01:27] What kind of problems Roopesh and his executive search team are grappling with[06:21] How the team at SAP adapted to the coronavirus crisis, and the shift to digital-only communication[08:45] Having to rely on video interviews to make a proper assessment of candidates[11:14] The silver linings and positive discoveries Roopesh has found in light of the coronavirus[12:57] How candidate experience is improving, and changing to focus on proper fit rather than creature comforts[15:15] How SAP and Roopesh’s team are able to give candidates responses within 48 hours[17:03] The way SAP approaches building their employer brand to attract top candidates[23:11] What SAP does, and how Roopesh is able to make it attractive to candidates[31:53] Building out a talent intelligence team that contextualizes talent to SAP[37:04] The tools and tricks the talent branding team at SAP uses to find and attract top talent[39:29] Creating branding events in an increasingly digital environment[42:12] The big distinctions between in-house and agency talent operations[51:02] Using AI and ATS systems to find candidates that might otherwise have been over looked.A self-confessed Talent Trailblazer with experience of successfully leading multinational Talent Acquisition teams for nearly 20 years, Roopesh Panchasra is currently the Global Head of Executive Recruiting & Employer Branding, Vice President at SAP where he’s been for ab out 5 years and previously directed TA teams at Workday, Expedia and VMware.

"Our values are to help the world run better and improve people's lives," says Frank Omare, a senior director within the global value advisory team at SAP. He works with customers to help them understand how technology can solve critical business problems, transform their businesses – and enable their organisations to achieve sustainability-related goals.Sustainability and social enterprise are central, not only to Frank's role, but to how SAP does business, he tells Heidi.Frank talks about technology as a force for good (with a positive impact on the environment) and coversHow the Ariba Network can connect social enterprises and minority-owned businesses with corporate organisations, opening a "world of opportunities" for allWhy accessibility to corporate organisations supported by promotion in the network allows social enterprises to scale massively.SAP's technology and automated workflows to highlight social enterprises to corporate buyers.Partnerships and sponsorships with organisations such as Social Enterprise UK and the Social Enterprise World Forum.SAP's working culture and commitment to social enterprise.How SAP measures its own impact – and how it helps customers and suppliers to measure and increase their impact too.Exciting plans and emerging technologies and how these might support social enterprises.Other sustainability and social enterprise solutions within and across SAP.

This week on “Marketing Today,” Alan talks with Siddarth Taparia, senior vice president and head of marketing transformation at SAP, where his duties include overseeing partner marketing and strategic transformation. During the course of their discussion, Taparia talks about his 13-year career at SAP, including his transition to marketing. He also discusses the efforts by SAP to transform their brand — both internally and for its clients. In talking about that transformation, Taparia said, “I firmly believe that transformation starts and is successful with people. Everything else is an ingredient. But the thing that really makes it work is that the people have to transform — there has to be a transformational mindset.” He later added, “Any type of brand transformation is driven by how your customers perceive you, what they think about you, and how they champion your products and solutions.” Highlights from this week’s “Marketing Today” podcast include: Taparia discusses his background and his career and transition to marketing at SAP. (1:19) How SAP tells its story in the marketplace. (3:53) The genesis of SAP’s brand transformation. (5:33) Making the consumer journey fundamentally better. (10:09) SAP and the customer experience: “We are looking at the future of customer experience and that future is being built right in front of our eyes.” (15:36) Taparia is focusing on things that bring people together as well as being a role model for his two daughters. (19:49) Disruption, dynamic change, and a reckoning regarding the use of personal data: Taparia’s take on the future of marketing. (23:39) Support the show.

Millennial and Generation Z keynote speaker and author, Ryan Jenkins,  welcomes Vlasta Dusil, SAP’s SVP Human Resources--Cloud Business Group, to the Next Generation Catalyst Podcast. The topic discussed is how to hire and keep top next generation talent using predictive hiring. We also cover...   Examples of how learning and development - she shared some good examples The power of reverse mentoring  How SAP empowers their employees through coaching  How and why SAP eliminated performance reviews How organiational heirachry might go away And more...

Subscribe to Social Business Engine Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play Social selling training is a key part of any modern, successful sales force. The team at SAP recognizes this fact and has put together a world-class social selling training program for their sales teams across the globe. The theme of this episode, number four in our series, “Savvy Social Selling, the SAP Way” is Social Selling Training & Enablement. Bernie speaks with SAP team members, Marco Cai - Global Head of Social Enablement & Training, Marco Argaez - Global Channel Marketing Director and Sales Enabler, Charrelle Robinson-Brown - Head of Global e-Learning & Gamification for Social Selling, and Phil Lurie - VP of Sales Technology. SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, priding itself on helping you streamline your processes, giving you the ability to use live data to predict customer trends. SAP has embraced social selling to enable its global sales team to engage with customers more effectively. This podcast series and companion case study explains how SAP is scaling social selling across the enterprise. How The Importance Of Social Selling Is Communicated In SAP’S Training The SAP sales training team recognizes that there are many sales professionals who don’t understand the concept of social selling. As a result, they likely don’t understand how important or how effective social selling has become. For that reason, a training emphasis is placed on the importance of social selling. At SAP, social selling training is not talked about in a generic way, it’s tied to the specific situations the team members being trained are dealing with. This focus on relevance makes the importance and specific implementation of social selling come alive. There’s also an emphasis on the facts about the effectiveness of social selling. Trainees are shown how both markets and customers have changed through an ingenious exercise - they are encouraged to look at the way they typically buy, as consumers themselves. When they recognize how technologies like social media influence their own buyer’s journey, they are better able to see how their own sales practices need to change in order to effectively reach and help their customers. How SAPs Social Selling Training Encourages Behavior Change There are many ways that SAPs sales trainers empower and encourage social selling behaviors within the SAP sales teams. First, trainers help trainees understand the goals of social selling. Next, it’s vital that they are taught how to update their own social profiles professionally. Trainees are equipped to develop a professional personal brand, are provided social advocacy tools and are shown how to use search engines to find customers and build their personal networks. But SAPs social selling training isn’t only focused on salespeople. Managers are trained to understand the proper role of social selling in the overall sales process. They coach their teams to use social selling as an important tool, but not to neglect the traditional social skills and sales approaches that establish and nurture good customer relationships. How Long Does It Take For A Novice Social Seller To Become Proficient? Naturally, even among SAPs sales team, the answer to this question depends on the person, their role, and their background in sales. But generally speaking, it takes 3 to 6 months for a person who is entirely new to social selling to learn the right approach and best practices that enable social selling success. A key ingredient to successful training is that the trainers recognize the different learning approaches that are typical of the generations within the sales force. For example, Millennials often understand social selling and learn it faster, while those from previous generations are more reticent at first, but once they are convinced of the impact social selling can have on their pipeline, they adapt to social selling very well. It’s also interesting to point out that salespeople who self-initiate social selling training experience a “deeper” learning of the concepts than some who are required to take the training. Self-initiators already recognize the benefits that social selling can provide to their own sales success and are motivated to learn and apply it to their sales approach. Hear the details of how SAPs sales trainers equip their teams toward success at social selling, on this episode. Featured on This Episode SAP Marco Cai on Twitter: @MarcoCaihua Marcio Cai on LinkedIn Marco Argaez on Twitter: @Marco_Argaez Marco Argaez on LinkedIn Charrele Brown on Twitter: @charrele Carrele Brown on LinkedIn Phil Lurie on Twitter: @PMLurie Phil Lurie on LinkedIn Outline of This Episode [0:50] How do you convince your sales team of the importance of social selling? [6:24] What steps do you take to encourage behavior change toward social selling? [9:16] How do you maintain momentum among those trained for social selling? [13:28] Taking the beginning social seller to proficiency [20:16] Dealing with the resistance to the idea of social selling [21:42] How SAP has become one of the top social selling companies in the world Resources & People Mentioned Be sure to download the case study that accompanies the podcast series - Social Business Journal Volume 11. It weaves together the narrative of social selling success factors at SAP. It’s available for download, ungated here. The Selling With Social Podcast with Vengreso CEO, Mario Martinez, Jr Connect With Bernie and Social Business Engine https://www.facebook.com/socialbusinessengine/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieborges/ https://twitter.com/bernieborges https://twitter.com/sbengine SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, priding itself on helping you streamline your processes, giving you the ability to use live data to predict customer trends. SAP has embraced social selling to enable its global sales team to engage with customers more effectively. This podcast series and companion case study explains how SAP is scaling social selling across the enterprise. Subscribe to Social Business Engine Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play  

Subscribe to Social Business Engine Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play The sales world is changing, and social selling is becoming a powerful tool in today's sales toolbox. This episode of Social Business Engine introduces a multi-part series of podcast episodes we have entitled “Up Close: Savvy Social Selling the SAP Way: Best Practices that Win Customers.” This series of interviews will bring you the insights from some of SAPs most successful leaders and brightest minds. In this episode, you’ll learn about the role managers play in encouraging social selling among their teams. Featured in this episode are  insights from Marc Havercroft, COO/VP of SAP Success Factors - Enrico Palumbo, HR Director and Member of the Management Board of SAP Switzerland - Shailendra Kumar, Vice President, Chief Evangelist - and Phil Lurie, VP Sales Technology, SAP. Be sure to download the case study that accompanies the podcast series - Social Business Journal Volume 11. It weaves together the narrative of social selling success factors at SAP. It’s available for download, ungated in the resources below. SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, priding itself on helping you streamline your processes, giving you the ability to use live data to predict customer trends. SAP has embraced social selling to enable its global sales team to engage with customers more effectively. This podcast series and companion case study explains how SAP is scaling social selling across the enterprise. Selling Behaviors Must Change Because Customers Don’t Buy Like They Used To The digital age has created many benefits for the consumer, like providing the ability to research and even try out products before they ever talk to a salesperson. That means the traditional approach to sales doesn't work in quite the way it used to. Social selling is the answer to these changes because it enables salespeople to become a trusted resource to potential buyers long before the buyer is willing to make a personal connection with them. Sales organizations must shift their mindset to implement social selling as a consistent practice. This episode draws out the best practices of leaders from SAP regarding how they train their teams in social selling, how they keep the momentum going after the training, and how they empower and equip them to engage in ways that are genuinely beneficial to potential customers. Social Selling Requires A Cultural Shift: Here’s How SAP is Making That Shift This episode highlights four different leaders from the SAP team and their responses to some questions relating to social selling. When asked how they are helping their teams make the shift from analog thinking to digital thinking, these were the points they shared: Mark Havercroft says he encourages his team to look at the world around them from the perspective of the individuals they want to serve as customers. They need to observe how people engage with the digital world around them and even use their personal consumer journey in the digital world to reflect on what they can do to become a resource to others. The goal is for the salesperson to become part of a network of trusted advisors in advance of the transaction, via social media. Enrico Palumbo explains that he begins the cultural shift the first day of training with new team members. He helps them understand how the things they post and recommend on social media are a reflection of the company. He desires to help them fine-tune their messaging and sharing practices to improve their personal brand and promote the company in a positive light. Shailendra Kumar encourages his team members to spend more time on social media, getting used to the platforms and practices so that they can directly communicate with buyers. He says that little things like paying attention to birthdays help his salespeople connect with clients in an informal way that creates a mindset shift in the client and the team member. Phil Lurie views the final goal of social selling to be the same that it has always been in sales - to become a trusted advisor to future customers. But social offers a distinct advantage: it enables his team to use social media to listen to the things potential customers are concerned about so that they can then position their personal brand as an expert who can answer their concerns. They do that through sharing articles and resources relating to those areas of concern. He says that when team members can learn how to combine effective social listening with helpful resources and messaging, they have found a winning combination. Even Though Digital Selling is a New, Level Playing Field, Don’t Forget Purpose Matters One of the most important concepts shared on this episode centers around the reality that digital selling is a new and level playing field for everyone. So everyone has the opportunity to shape their position and message on social media to meet the needs of their particular market. But the end goal is not just to sell products; it's to help the buyer make a decision that achieves the outcome they're looking for. Keeping that in mind enables the salesperson to become the expert resource customers are looking for. Make sure to set aside some time to listen to this episode. It is filled with great insights from some of the best leaders in modern sales. Featured on This Episode Michael Labate on LinkedIn Marc Havercroft on LinkedIn Enrico Palumbo on LinkedIn Shailendra Kumar on LinkedIn Phil Lurie on LinkedIn Outline of This Episode [0:12] Bernie’s introduction to this series of interviews, sponsored by SAP [1:43] Why Social Selling is so important for the team at SAP [4:15] Mark Havercroft: Sales professionals need to view their own consumer journey in the digital world [5:47] What the SAP team hears back from customers about their social sales journey [7:17] Enrico Palumbo: Making new team members ambassadors of SAP - in real life and on social [10:45] The goal in digital sales is the same as it has always been in sales [13:27] Transforming mindsets via the “digital dancefloor” approach [19:20] Some of the best ways to maintain momentum after social selling training [25:30] Mentoring and reverse mentoring approaches to help the shift happen Resources & People Mentioned Grab your copy of “Savvy Social Selling the SAP Way” The Selling With Social Podcast with Vengreso CEO, Mario Martinez, Jr Connect With Bernie and Social Business Engine https://www.facebook.com/socialbusinessengine/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieborges/ https://twitter.com/bernieborges https://twitter.com/sbengine Subscribe to Social Business Engine Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, priding itself on helping you streamline your processes, giving you the ability to use live data to predict customer trends. SAP has embraced social selling to enable its global sales team to more effectively engage with customers. This podcast series and companion case study explains how SAP is scaling social selling across the enterprise.

In the big push for more engineers today, can we get them from autistic students? Research has shown that college students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) go into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields more than students without ASD. We speak with one of the researchers who studied this phenomenon, Dr. Jennifer Yu of SRI International (Part 1 @ 01:00), and we also discuss community colleges, universal design, and why learning to educate autistic students better can help educate all students better. Then we hear from occupational therapist and doctoral candidate Marci Schneider in Florida (Part 2 @ 21:25). In her eighteen years of experience serving K-12 students with special needs, she has gathered advice for teachers on how to approach ASD in STEM classrooms. One final note comes from high school engineering teacher Melanie Kong in Seattle (Part 3 @ 35:50), who picked up a few insights in her early years on this topic. Mentioned in this episode: ● SRI international: https://www.sri.com/ ● Blog post from Dr. Jennifer Yu, “Turning Autism Research into Support for Learning”: https://www.sri.com/blog/turning-autism-research-support-learning ● Peer-reviewed research article on autism and STEM in college, from Jennifer's team at SRI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23114569 ● Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, UK autism researcher: https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/people_Baron-Cohen ● National Longitudinal Transition Study: http://www.nlts2.org ● Article from FastCompany by Vauhini Vara, “Microsoft Wants Autistic Coders. Can It Find Them and Keep Them?”: https://www.fastcompany.com/3062835/hr/microsoft-autism-hiring ● Article from CIO by Sharon Florentine, “How SAP is hiring autistic adults for tech jobs”: http://www.cio.com/article/3013221/careers-staffing/how-sap-is-hiring-autistic-adults-for-tech-jobs.html ● Peer-reviewed research article on autism and community college: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24158680 ● Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com ● Read&Write extension for Google Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwrite-for-google-chro/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd?hl=en-US ● Mercury extension [an alternative to the Readability app, which is no longer available as of October 2016]: https://mercury.postlight.com/ Remember that the podcast will be at the SXSW Conference and Festival in March, 2017! We will be running workshops for educators and professional engineers: https://www.sxsw.com/ and http://sxswedu.com/ The cover art for this episode is full of origami cranes, and it is inspired by “the birds activity” from past podcast guest Ellen Browne, which Melanie describes at the end of this episode; it is also inspired by the colored puzzle pieces historically used to symbolize autism at times. Our opening music comes from "School Zone (radio edit)" by The Honorable Sleaze, who's also on Soundcloud. Our closing music is from "Late for School" by Bleeptor. Both are used under Creative Commons Attribution Licenses: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com

It wasn't all that long ago — not quite a year — that the leaders in the OpenStack community were openly discussing whether their platform should be expected to support both conventional and cloud-native workloads simultaneously. Some expressed their fear that customers were demanding an evolutionary path, and vendors may be answering demands for such a path, that the platform wasn't intended to take — and that contributing developers didn't want to follow. And on the other side of the fence, the rapid rise of Docker led some prominent voices to declare the impending death of OpenStack. Fast-forward to last August, when Markus Riedinger, a cloud architect for SAP — an OpenStack customer, not a producer — demonstrated how he and his team produced an automated, containerized, CI/CD-compatible OpenStack in their own enterprise. It seemed as though OpenStack's own customers couldn't compel the platform community to adapt to the path they wanted, so they took matters in their own hands. How SAP accomplished this was not by staging Kubernetes through an OpenStack component, or alternately, by cramming OpenStack into a container. Rather, the team re-architected the division of labor in OpenStack among multiple containers, as though it were created that way to begin with. It deliberately separated operations along the control and data planes, to maintain that division. And it created redundancies along both planes as a way of accomplishing immutable operations. “To clearly separate control and data,” Riedinger told attendees, “allows an independent, service-level objective for the data path compared to the control [path], which also implements independent processes and procedures to scale each of the aspects — the control and the data — separately, leading to extending and fixing and improving the existing model to operate the vendor gear. SAP is quite the classical organization… no self-developed hardware. And the existing operating model should be persisted, and just fixed and extended.” Very cleverly, Riedinger's team leveraged the concept of decoupled services to untangle all the OpenStack components that muddle each other in the typical enterprise, along SDN-style lines of control and data. This way, it's never a case of whether the service level of the application is being met by the underlying layer of infrastructure. Rather, it's as if OpenStack were architected as an SDN system from the very beginning. SAP's project may not be the first to successfully containerize OpenStack, but it may well be one of the first to be migrated fully into production. The subject of open source customers using open source processes to openly make software work the way they need it to — rather than to suit the marketing requirements of vendors — is the subject of the latest edition of The New Stack: Context, produced by Scott Fulton and Luke Lefler.

Anka Wittenberg is the SVP and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at SAP, a software firm based in Walldorf, Germany.  She holds master’s degrees in economics and international business and is a mother of three.  That last note is what helped launch her career since holding two master’s degrees was not enough to get her an interview with the larger firms in Germany just because she also had small children.  This one difference between Anka and the rest of the workforce is what opened her eyes and showed her the need for more diversity and inclusion in the workforce.   This observation has helped Anka become a guest lecturer, author and advocate for true diversity and inclusion in the workforce.   Being the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for SAP means that Anka oversees the sustainability of people and the diversity and inclusion of everyone.  What exactly does that mean? That it does not matter the sex, culture, ethnicity, age, or physical ability of a person but ALL types of people need to be included within the workforce. The uniqueness of your workforce begins to emerge when you include people from all walks of life you begin to see the diversity.  SAP has a goal of having 25% of their leadership roles to be filled by females by the year 2017 and by the year 2020 their goal is to have 1% of their workforce positions filled by autistic people.  Along with this diversity and inclusion you must work on the sustainability of the people within your organization.    One of the biggest changes that is happening today is the change within the corporate culture and thinking with regards to diversity & inclusion.  Organizations are beginning to change their thinking on how they are training and sustaining their employees by focusing more on the holistic picture.  Due to these changes organizations are beginning to see the business impact within employee engagement, improved customer satisfaction and innovation.    What you will learn in this episode: What diversity & inclusion Means. The four subcategories of diversity & inclusion. What the is the business impact of diversity & inclusion. How organizations are changing their corporate culture. How SAP is implementing various programs to be a completely diversified & inclusive organization. What the key points are in an employee’s experience. What is unconscious bias? How can organizations can focus more on diversity & inclusion. Link From The Episode: Diversity And Inclusion At SAP  Anka Wittenberg on LinkedIn (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

In this interview Matt Alder talks to Matthew Jeffery VP Head of Global Sourcing & Employment Branding at SAPAs I do more and more podcast interviews it is becoming very clear that recruitment innovation is a complex subject. Every employer is in a different position and what is innovative for one company can just be normal recruitment practice at another.Matthew Jeffery has always been someone at the cutting edge of innovation in our sector and in this episode we talk about some of the work he has done at SAP as well as his wider views on what is happening in the industry.Topics discussed include:•    How SAP have “democratized” graduate recruitment by using technology to reach a broader audience•    How to give a good candidate experience at scale to 50,000 applicants•    What algorithms can do that recruiters can’t but why they won’t be replacing humans any time soonMatthew also gives us his views on why he feels recruitment isn’t being properly discussed at government level.  Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes

To get an inside view of the evolution of SAP Business Intelligence, Jon tracked down senior SAP BI consultant and ProKarma SAP Solutions Director Pat Pesa. Pat has one of the most compelling takes on the potential of BI to transform the enterprise. Listen in as Jon and Pat go through the evolution of the BW product from the earliest releases to NetWeaver BI. Along the way, Pat shares the reasons that BW projects fail and the tactics needed to make them a success. Pat goes into detail regarding the skills consultants need to be successful in the SAP BI market and how they might break into BI from a range of technical backgrounds. In this forty minute look at BI consulting trends, Jon and Pat cover key topics such as: - How Pat broke into SAP and found his way into BW consulting roles. - How SAP managed to move beyond the criticism from data warehouse experts, who initially viewed BW as a "joke." How SAP made BW a quality product with a proven value to SAP customers. - Pat highlights how the work companies had to do with early releases of BW, building ETL, Extractors, and InfoCubes, has changed. Now BW is a fully-loaded product with plenty of business content. - The current applications of BI 7.0, from web reporting to faster analytical environments, from Integrated Planning to Enterprise Data Management. - Why BI was important to SAP's push to move beyond a transactional system to an "intelligent" program that allowed companies to leverage their ERP data for better reporting and decision-making. - The keys to a successful BI implementation, which include: assessing your information requirements, understanding where the data needs fall within your organization, smart use of blueprinting, and quality documentation. - Why the "siloed" BW implementation approach didn't work, and why the BI "enterprise-wide" data management approach is much more effective. - Pat's take on why most successful BW consultants come from technical backgrounds, and how functional consultants can be effective in their work dealing with the BI team. - Pat explains why he thinks the convergence of functional and technical SAP skills sets is not the ideal skill set for BI work, and why technical folks are generally better suited to BW project roles. - How data warehousing experts can fit into BW/BI projects, and the range of SAP technical skills that are applicable to BI projects. Pat also describes the kind of ABAP knowledge needed to be effective in BW. Jon gives his take on the ideal technical/functional skills mix for SAP consultants. - How the SAP ecosystem makes products like BI easier to implement than SAP projects used to be. - The impact of NetWeaver on BI, and how BI have moved beyond basic BEx reporting to web-based reporting. How Portals, iViews and SAP MDM tie together to improve the user experience in BI. - Why eSOA is an "enabling technology" that will allow SAP customers to innovate in ways that will help SAP customers to think in terms of business strategy and not in terms of their technical releases (R/3, BW, etc.) - Whether BI is effective in more diverse environments where non-SAP data is a key part of a company's data management challenge. How companies can structure their BI data integration around the SAP Financials functionality when SAP Financials serves as the system of record. - The future of information management in SAP, and why the underlying "source system" that a company's data is on will no longer be the defining factor. Pat explains why this shift allows NetWeaver to flip the "source system" approach on its head and allows business users to define their processes without worrying about which systems their data resides in. - How Pat balances his own career between practice lead functions and hands-on work, and why it's important to him to remain involved on the technical side of SAP.

SAP is at a crossroads. This year's combined SAPPHIRE/ASUG conference was a significant event in terms of how SAP positions itself for the next five years. In this podcast interview with ASUG President Rod Masney, SAP Career Expert Jon Reed talks to Rod about this year's combined ASUG/SAPPHIRE conference. He also asks Rod about the biggest challenges SAP users are facing and how ASUG impacts SAP's product evolution. In this 23 minute podcast, Rod speaks about these topics and more, including: - How to get the most out of the upcoming ASUG/SAPPHIRE conference: Rod shares his thoughts on the advantages of the combined format and how attendees can benefit. - The biggest challenges SAP users are facing: Jon asks Rod what he's learned from ASUG's own user surveys and discussions. - How ASUG is helping SAP customers address upgrade issues: Upgrades can be massive projects with plenty of misfires. Learn how ASUG is helping customers share information and lessons learned. - Making sense of SAP lingo and version releases: Jon wants to know if Rod can clear up the confusion regarding version releases. Rod explains how SAP is settling on mySAP 2005 as its foundation release. - The evolution of Web Services and SOA: from hype to actual case studies: Is SOA the real deal or just "brochureware"? Rod shares his take. - Debunking the myth that SAP only serves the needs of large companies: SAP's push into the mid-market is discussed. - How SAP users are impacting the direction of SAP through Influence Councils: ASUG has had a huge impact on SAP's own software in recent years. Find out why.

Listen in with Jon as he talks with one of the most influential and compelling voices in the SAP community, Michael Doane. Along with Jon, Michael is the co-author of The SAP Consultant Handbook, and his recently updated SAP Blue Book has become the industry standard for all business readers looking to get a handle on SAP. In this in-depth, 45 minute interview, Jon and Michael sit down for a frank look at a changing SAP market full of new opportunities but plenty of challenges. During this "state of the industry" discussion, Jon asks Michael for his take on a number of key questions facing SAP professionals, including: - How the SAP market rebounded, and what factors contributed to SAP's market surge. - Michael's work at Performance Monitor and why Performance Monitor is uniquely positioned to monitor SAP (and Oracle) consulting trends. - Why Michael updated the SAP Blue Book and what has changed in the SAP market since his first edition. - The drivers that will push the SAP market forward in the next five years. - What key skills SAP consultants are lacking now and what skills they will need to add to stay competitive. - Why "offshoring" has had such a big impact on SAP consulting and why Michael thinks that "ABAP is dead" as a good consulting niche. - Why Michael is a bit skeptical of "Business Intelligence" hype. - How SAP and Oracle are positioning themselves as they battle for the mid-market. - The importance of choosing skills over rates.

In Jon's first-ever podcast appearance, Jon is interviewed on a podcast hosted by SearchSAP.com. (Original version can be heard on SearchSAP.com). This 18 minute "State of the SAP Job Market" podcast features Jon's take on where SAP consulting is headed as we begin the "upgrade era." The focus of the podcast is an in-depth look at the changing SAP job market. Jon's portion of the interview begins at the three minute mark. During the 15 minute discussion, Jon comments on: - How the SAP job market has evolved since the year 2000 and how SAP has overcome the challenges it has faced since Y2K. - How SAP triumphed over the best-of-breed market in CRM and other area and why that's good news for SAP consultants. - Why the era of "enforced upgrades" should be a good one for SAP professionals and why software markets are at their healthiest when there is a carrot (new functionality) and a stick (fees for extended maintenance). - The potential impact of SOA and Web Services and how consultants can anticipate these technology trends. - Why the "death of ABAP" is premature and why SAP is still invested in the future of ABAP. - What the "SAP Programmer of the Future" will look like. - What the impact of outsourcing will be on technical (and functional) areas of SAP. - Why RFID hasn't taken off as an SAP consulting niche and how consultants can position themselves in this emerging area. - The impact of CRM On-Demand Solutions and whether there will be a good consulting niche in this area. - Why Sarbanes-Oxley and "Compliance Consulting" has not been especially popular, and how SAP consultants can incorporate compliance and regulatory skills into their skill sets.