TechEd 2008 SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment Session Recommendations for Project Managers

[viliana]

After the first TechEd 2008 SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment session recommendations for Business Consultants of this series, where Jan Rauscher recommends a list of sessions suitable for a business consultant that would like to stay on top of the wave of what’s new, here is the second blog that addresses the project manager needs.

Compared to the business consultant, the software project manager needs not only firm background in the software development and in the new technologies, but also should be able to oversee the whole software development lifecycle, to clearly define the project objectives and requirements, and to manage the whole project to its successful completion. To achieve all this, apart from the overview sessions that will introduce and explain all new concepts, we would recommend a couple of more advanced sessions that describe best practices in developing applications, real-world examples, tools choice and usage, and so on.

We hope the list below will be a guidance when making up your mind how to build your TechEd agenda.

Overview sessions introducing the fundamentals and the required tools: 

• COMP100: Java Development with SAP NetWeaver CE
  An end-to-end perspective on Java development with SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment, starting from the lifecycle view, through the technologies for Java development at SAP, and finally an overview of the tools for development, configuration, administration, monitoring, and debugging.

• LCM218: SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure in a New Shape
  This session will introduce different scenarios on how to use the SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure (NWDI). One scenario that will be introduced is focused on the transport aspect where the combination with the enhanced Change and Transport System (CTS+) is explained, which enables you to define your system landscape much more flexibly. You will learn how to adapt and configure the development infrastructure depending on the complexity of your project. A roadmap with the long term strategy and future developments will close this presentation.

• COMP165: Exploring Web Dynpro Java: Goals, Concepts, Benefits
  In this session you will explore the real goals, concepts, and benefits of the Web Dynpro Java UI framework for building business Web applications. We highlight particular features of Web Dynpro and illustrate how these functions yield benefits in respect of UI consistency, client device independence, accessibility, reusability, and reduced total costs of development and maintenance. We further clarify the key differentiators of Web Dynpro Java compared to other Web frameworks like JSF and demonstrate its openness to rich client UI technologies like Adobe Flash by using the new Web Dynpro Flash Islands, introduced in SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1. We finally conclude this session with a short comparison to the other Web Dynpro flavors: Web Dynpro for SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer and Web Dynpro for ABAP.

• SOA100: How to Accelerate Transformation to SOA: Methodology Overview, Approach, and Other Resources
  The presentation covers the newly developed methodology for accelerated transformation to service-oriented architecture (SOA), in context of the starter kit for SOA, and other service portfolio offerings, all of which serve to accelerate the adoption of SOA. The presentation will provide an overview of the concept behind the methodology and starter kit, and how you can use it to quickly move forward in your SOA project. The presentation will also relate to the SAP services portfolio and SAP Discovery system for SOA and share experiences on key success factors for SOA.

and an answer to the question popping up every now and then - “Web Dynpro or Visual Composer”:

• COMP103: Web Dynpro and SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer – Which Tool Should I Use?
  This session will position SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer alongside Web Dynpro Java, and will explain the relationship between the two UI modeling tools that are delivered with SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment in the short- and mid-term.

Definitely a must are the overview session and/or hands-on describing the new Business Process Management (BPM) workflow tool which is shipped for the first time now with SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1 EHP1:

• BPM200: End-to-End BPM: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Next Level
  In this interactive demo session, we will guide you through developing a business process from scratch using the SAP NetWeaver Business Process Management-based process composer, leveraging business rules developed in the rules composer and an enterprise service from the enterprise services repository. Take a look at brand new developments for the next wave of business process management, fresh from the SAP Labs.

• BPM260: The ABC's of Modeling and Using Business Rules in SAP NetWeaver CE 
  This will be a complete hands-on session on modeling business rules and integrating the rule engine with applications with SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment.
  You will specifically learn:
  1. How to model business rules in the SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment.
  2. How to use rule formats like If/Then rules and decision tables.
  3. How to write rules using data definitions available as Java object models and XML schema definitions.
  4. How to integrate and use the rule engine from your J2EE applications.
  5. How to create an XML rules service.

and a hands-on for those familiar with Guided Procedures but eager to move to BPM:

• BPM361: Transitioning From Guided Procedures to SAP NetWeaver BPM
  This session provides guidelines for transitioning business process composites created using guided procedures into business process models using SAP NetWeaver BPM.

Best practices and real-world examples:

• COMP266: Best Practices for Building State-of-the-Art Web Dynpro User Interfaces
  Within this hands-on session you will learn important concepts and practical guidelines for building state-of-the-art Web Dynpro Java user interfaces. We will introduce different container layouts, provide rules for the horizontal and vertical sizing of UI element containers, container cells, and UI elements, and differentiate the visibility, readOnly, and enabled states of UI elements. We will cover additional UI design aspects like nesting container UI elements or finding the best container layout to optimize rendering performance. We finally will introduce new Web Dynpro UI elements and enhancements in SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1, like the new column layout for the vertical alignment of UI elements across container and even component borders.

• COMP201: Deep Dive Into Real-World Composite Applications
  This lecture will provide an overview of typical composite application use cases, including simple - but also some complex - composites. They reflect real world customer solutions. Based on that, learn composition best practices based on solutions and composite patterns, which are applied by SAP's composite development teams. A deep dive into one or two composite applications will illustrate and hopefully help you understand the usage of essential patterns and best practices in real world applications. The objective is for you to learn the various dimensions of composite solutions and successfully apply the learned solution best practices in your own projects.

And last but not least, we strongly encourage you to take part in the discussion panel, benefit from the experience of the others, and make the best of your chance to influence SAP and the future development of the SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment at:

• SOA155: ASUG Influence Council: Composite Applications With SAP NetWeaver CE
  In this Influence Council, SAP will give customers the opportunity to influence SAP's solution for building composite applications. After a short introduction the discussions will be on the following questions:
  What characterizes a composite application?
  When would customers consider building composite applications?
  Which skill set is required to build composite applications?
  Which capabilities should a platform deliver which allows to build composite applications?

I know, it’s a pretty ambitious agenda but hopefully a rewarding one as well. Of course, there are a lot more other valuable sessions published at http://www.sapteched.com/ so don’t hesitate to have a look there.

Stay tuned for the next blog with the recommendations for a software engineer.

See you at TechEd!