SAP S/4HANA: big bang or dedicated migration?
Big bang or dedicated migration? My bachelor’s thesis examines how goals, operational requirements and technical dependencies shape the move to SAP S/4HANA.
What dedicated migration means
A big bang switches the system at a single point in time. Dedicated migration selects functions, processes and user groups for targeted transitions. These can be staggered and may overlap; their functional boundaries determine the sequence.
Which criteria matter
The Brandenburg Migration Check groups the decision into management goals, organisational requirements, and business-process and system requirements.
Goals and constraints
Which processes should change? How much organisational change is intended? Time pressure, available budget and data retention requirements also shape the decision.
Operations and people
How much business downtime is acceptable? What capacity do employees and key users have? Company culture and pressure for change influence preparation and adoption.
Processes and systems
The analysis considers customisation, process complexity and dependencies, data quality, required functionality, and functional alignment between the source and target systems.
How to approach the analysis
The check suggests a structured approach: clarify goals and constraints, collect business and IT requirements, and map dependencies between data, processes, functions and user groups. Then assess both implementation strategies against operational risk, resource needs and feasibility. Justify the choice through these relationships; no single criterion is sufficient.
How I investigated the criteria
I developed hypotheses from the literature and examined them through seven semi-structured interviews with experienced SAP consultants and project stakeholders. The analysis brought their accounts together into decision criteria. Five additional conversations clarified technical questions and were not used to answer the research question. The findings are limited to this qualitative sample in the German market.
Results and scope
The Brandenburg Migration Check supports a reasoned decision rather than prescribing one universal strategy. Operational risks can favour dedicated migration; strong functional alignment can favour a big bang. Brownfield and greenfield describe the transformation approach, while big bang and dedicated describe implementation. This work informed my later migration projects.
Request the thesis
If you would like to read the thesis, email me. The full document is not published here as a download.