10.) Tips for successful SAP implementations
Not having the right skills on an ERP implementation team and lack of buy-in from employees once it’s launched are the two biggest causes of ERP implementation failures. Putting business-focused outcomes rather than deadlines in the contract is one way to ensure focused, and therefore successful, projects. In this post, learn more about ensuring successful SAP implementations.

9.) SAP weighs in on Oracle-Sun, Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal earned a little wrath from SAP after it suggested that SAP CEO Leo Apotheker could smooth the way for an Oracle-Sun merger. With Oracle and the European Commission headed for a showdown, not to mention whatever competitive advantage Oracle may gain by bundling hardware, databases and applications, SAP may have more to say about the deal.

8.) Moving SAP, hardware and all, into the cloud
Does it make sense for companies to continue to own their servers and desktop computers? In this post, one analyst suggested that companies can achieve significant cost savings by moving their non-mission-critical SAP infrastructure into the cloud.

7.) What does SAP have to say about the Oracle-Sun deal?
You can always count on SAP executive Bill McDermott to give a piece of his mind on what SAP often refers to as its “next largest competitor.” During an interview on SAP’s first quarter earnings in 2009, McDermott launched into his take on the Oracle-Sun acquisition.

6.) Jon Reed: SAP to start paying more attention to R/3 users
SAP Mentor Jon Reed took part in some high-level discussions at SAP TechEd 2009 in Phoenix, Ariz. He says that SAP may be pulling back from its emphasis on upgrading to SAP ERP 6.0 and will start paying more attention to its installed base of R/3 4.6C/4.7 users.

5.) Who wants SAP on the iPhone?
When SAP and Sybase announced in March a new effort to make SAP mobile applications for the iPhone and BlackBerry, it raised the question of the promises and perils of the consumerization of IT and the challenges it presents, not only to productivity but to IT departments.

4.) Is certification the ticket to a more successful SAP implementation?
SAP implementations rarely finish on time or on budget. Our readers lent some interesting advice on how to avoid ERP implementation failure.

3.) What’s the real trend in failed SAP projects?
A claim by Shane and Co. that a failed SAP ERP implementation was a catalyst for the jewelry company’s descent into bankruptcy sent the SAP blogosphere into a tizzy in early 2009. But one expert pointed out that it’s not the software’s fault that you didn’t put it in right, and that blame for Shane and Co.’s failings lies squarely with the management team and the system integrator.

2.) Who’s taking ERP market share from SAP, Oracle?
By a wide margin, SAP and Oracle remained one and two, respectively, in the North American enterprise software market. But in looking at this year’s market numbers, the more interesting question was: Who took market share from them?

1.) Will SAP buy Tibco?
The question of whether SAP would buy Tibco first came up when Oracle bought BEA Systems. Many thought that SAP needed to boost its own middleware, SAP NetWeaver, and that Tibco would make for an ideal acquisition. That thought resurfaced in 2009 after Tibco announced that it was offering cloud computing tools. And while a deal never materialized in 2009, many believe that the vendor is due for a big acquisition in 2010.

So when I even mentioned Oracle yesterday during an interview on SAP’s first quarter earnings, he gladly launched into his take on Oracle’s recent Sun acquisition unprompted.

 ”I think they have introduced a tremendous level of risk into their business model by making this wild foray into hardware,” McDermott said. “They know nothing about hardware and now they’ve made a move into the hardware business.”

He added that they’re also proving that they’re running out of software companies to buy.

He also didn’t look too enviously upon Oracle’s idea of providing one-stop shopping for customers either.  Larry Ellison said in a press release issued during last week’s announcement that “Oracle will be the only company that can engineer an integrated system – applications to disk – where all the pieces fit and work together so customers do not have to do it themselves.”

“I actually can understand why from their point of view they think it’s the right thing to do,” McDermott said. “Because they have not innovated anything. They went on an acquisition trail and the monster is hungry, it has to continue have another acquisition to keep its numbers in line with the capital markets’ expectations.”

SAP, on the other hand, will continue to focus on “being a good partner to companies like IBM,” giving customers the best value and not locking them into one vendor.

And that begs the acquisition question. After the Oracle-Sun deal went down, the blogosphere was abuzz with rumors that IBM was looking to buy SAP — IBM’s best shot at competing with Oracle/Sun.

On this note, co-CEO Leo Apotheker told the Wall Street Journal that IBM is a solid business partner, but customers signaled they wanted it to remain independent.

But is partnering with IBM enough? Joshua Greenbaum has an interesting post this week about why the Sun deal, and Oracle’s subsequent ownership of Java (which McDermott said he isn’t concerned about) may make IBM and Oracle closer allies. And why, in that light, SAP should start looking for some new partners to balance off a growing “IBM/Oracle axis of competition,” Greenbaum writes. Strengthening ties with the sponsors of those “I’m a PC and I’m four and a half,” commercials may be a good move.

As an SAP customer, what are your thoughts and concerns on increasing consolidation in the industry?