Book excerpt: Outsourcing - this term holds a promise of best-in-class service at low cost. But how do you realize this potential? Read this book, and you'll learn everything needed to decide on your own SAP outsourcing strategy: Which components or project types are best suited to outsourcing? Which outsourcing model is right for your company? How do you find a reliable and affordable partner? And how to define SLA's that really work? You'll benefit from the author's extensive experience in the field and the numerous examples from real-world projects provided throughout!Making the Decision:Find out whether your organization is the right candidate for an SAP outsourcing initiative, explore the benefits of different outsourcing models, and learn which components and projects are best suited.Choosing a Partner:They'll promise you everything, but will they deliver? Find out which information you should request in advance, how the screening process works, and what to consider when setting up a contract. Plus, benefit from real-life templates for Requests for Information and Request for Proposal documents!Executing the Plan:Whether you are planning an SAP implementation or upgrade, production support, or a global delivery, find out which tools and staff you need, how to set up a feasible schedule, and get familiar with your most important partner - the Integration Manager.Real-life Case Studies:Throughout the book, you'll find case studies with experiences other organizations made. Learn what they did right, but don't repeat their mistakes!