SAP S/4 Implementation: A Comprehensive Guide for Practitioners

by Dave Karpinsky

Overview

SAP Implementation: A Tactical Guide for the Real World is a hands-on, no-nonsense manual for SAP professionals tasked with delivering complex transformations in real organizational environments. Authored by global SAP transformation leader Dave Karpinsky, this guide fuses hard-earned experience with practical tools and frameworks—perfect for those who want more than theory and need results.

Too often, SAP books focus on technical syntax or abstract methodologies divorced from on-the-ground challenges. This book is different. It's designed for project managers, program directors, functional leads, architects, and client-side executives who are held accountable for outcomes. Whether you're launching a Greenfield implementation, executing a Brownfield conversion, or optimizing ongoing operations, this book offers the tactical clarity needed to deliver SAP successfully—even under pressure.

SAP Implementation covers the end-to-end lifecycle of an SAP project, including:

• Phase-by-phase guidance: from Discover and Prepare through Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run
• Key workstreams and deliverables for PMO, Functional, Technical, OCM, and Testing teams
• Project governance, risk management, and milestone control
• How to lead Fit-to-Standard workshops and align on future-state design
• Data migration strategies and critical path planning
• Vendor management, team alignment, and expectation-setting with stakeholders
• Practical recovery tactics for struggling projects or programs on the brink

What sets this book apart is its emphasis on real-world application. Each chapter reflects lessons learned across industries—finance, manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. You'll gain access to best practices, common pitfalls, and proven approaches that Karpinsky has applied across more than 60 countries and billions in transformation spend.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• Build momentum during early project phases when uncertainty is highest
• Use Fit-to-Standard workshops to shape design without over-customizing
• Control scope creep and clarify decision rights across business and IT
• Plan and sequence testing in a way that reduces late-stage chaos
• Anticipate and mitigate organizational resistance to change
• Lead recovery efforts when the project is red and trust is eroded

Whether you're dealing with a difficult system integrator, managing cross-workstream confusion, or preparing for executive steering committee meetings, SAP Implementation equips you with the mindset, tools, and playbook to lead confidently. It's the field guide to SAP delivery that no one hands you at kickoff—but that every successful project leader needs.

About the Author: Dave Karpinsky, PhD (ABD), MBA, PMP, Prosci, is a seasoned global executive, consultant, and author with over 30 years of experience leading enterprise transformation. With leadership roles at firms like Accenture, McKinsey, SAP, IBM, and KPMG, he has delivered high-stakes SAP programs in over 60 countries. Known for rescuing troubled initiatives and building scalable governance frameworks, Dave brings unmatched clarity to complex environments.

If you're responsible for SAP success in the real world—this book is for you. Practical, grounded, and brutally honest, SAP Implementation: A Tactical Guide for the Real World will change how you lead your next project.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798898660192
Publisher:	Dave Karpinsky
Publication date:	07/14/2025
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

About Dave Karpinsky

Dave Karpinsky, PhD (ABD), MBA, PMP, Prosci, is a seasoned global executive, consultant, and author with over three decades of leadership in enterprise technology and transformation. With extensive experience delivering high-impact programs in over 60 countries, Dave has built a career at the intersection of business strategy, technology innovation, and operational excellence.

Dave's expertise spans enterprise systems, digital transformation, and organizational change management. He has led complex, multimillion-dollar programs across industries such as aerospace, defense, manufacturing, life sciences, energy, finance, and the public sector. His background includes senior leadership roles at firms such as Accenture, McKinsey & Co., SAP, IBM, KPMG, and BearingPoint. Known for rescuing challenged initiatives and building scalable governance frameworks, Dave has become a go-to advisor for C-level leaders facing high-stakes delivery.

Fluent in four languages and culturally agile, Dave thrives in multinational environments, aligning global teams across diverse workstreams. He has directed mission-critical initiatives for Global 500 companies. His ability to bridge business and IT has enabled him to lead successful rollouts involving ERP, AI, CRM, data, analytics, cloud, and integration platforms.

Beyond delivery execution, Dave is a respected thought leader and educator. He has taught project management, business strategy, and information systems at Lawrence Technological University, University of Phoenix, and Colorado Technical University. As an author, he translates deep industry experience into practical, actionable guidance for professionals navigating complex challenges.

Dave holds an MBA in Technology Management, PhD in Information Systems, and maintains certifications in project management (PMP), organizational change (Prosci), and multiple SAP and Salesforce specializations. He is passionate about helping teams succeed in fast-changing environments and believes in building sustainable, resilient solutions that create long-term value.

Outside of work, Dave enjoys world travel, astrophotography, and performance cars. He brings the same curiosity and precision to his hobbies as he does to his profession—always learning, exploring, and pushing boundaries.