Hi All,I've been with ACN for 3.5 years now (having joined as a grad) and have tried for a while to find roles on SAP projects so as to 'specialize' in a specific area to a certain extent, rather than becoming a jack of all trades.The problem I have encountered is that unless you join on a SAP project from day one, no project is willing to take you on later due to a lack of experience. My question is in two parts:i/ is SAP a good area to get into if eventually one wants to leave the Consulting industry and maybe work as a Contractor?ii/ would you suggest i move to another of the big consulting firms, a smaller consultancy or into industry to achieve further SAP experience? In each case which is a good firm to move to?Thanks,ASA

Do you really want me to unleash my full and unremitting fury towards you. ZB

Hehe, ZB sure don't like those IT guys!!

I'd prefer a constructive answer however I won't hold my hopes up too high!

ZB,What exactly is your issue?There are a number of Enterprises out there. They wish to enhance their resource planning.To achieve this objective, they engage with IT Consultancies to assist in implementing IT solutions.Demand -> Supplied (by Tigers)Was the love of your life swept off her feet by an ACN consultant? Were you rejected by ACN? Do you dislike golf? What's your beef?

Anyone have any thoughts on my original question/s?

Not quite in the ZB league of vitriol against the "IT Charlatans" but please lets try and stay on topics relevant to MC

i) Yes, good for contracting - esp. if you can build specialisation with specific SAP modulesii) ACN is as good as any of the other big firms for getting SAP experience. Some smaller firms have a 100% SAP focus, but the difficulty you'd face is that they'd want you to come in with specialist expertise already, natch. Otherwise, you'd be starting at the bottom, which isn't worth it.In summary, I think you're best to stick it out at ACN - specialisation takes time, but once you get your break to work on a project from day 1 it'll get a lot easier to find that kind of work.

Original Poster,What are the duties of an SAP Analyst and then Consultant at ACN?Are you expected to understand business processes, capture requirements, spec (design), test, roll out, etc.?But what about coding/programming? Would you a lot of that too?I am thinking about applying to ACN's SI&T as I have an interest in IT and have a degree in Computing and would like try to technology consulting so I work with a variety of clients.However, I do not really enjoy programming and much prefer understanding the business processes to capture requirements, designing systems but handing over to a programmer to code it and then back to me for rolling out. I would also like to appreciate the various business functions too.So was wondering what area of SI&T would be best for me? SITE? Info Management? Tech Consulting? Or SAP?

As an Analyst/Consultant you would be expected to do a lot more of the client facing project work rather than the hands on technical work i.e. progamming etc. - that would more likely be off-shored to India and elsewhere. Typically you would be involved in defining the scope of the project, estimating the project finance & resource requirements (Senior Consultant), conducting workshops with the clients to elicit their requirements and to better understand the as-is state. Furthermore, you would be involved in designing the solution, you may assist in configuration and then later on in a project you would be involved in typical testing and deployment activities. The entirety of a project may span over the course of a few years, so most likely you would dip in and out of a project, thereby only being involved in one or two of these areas. My problem is that in trying to specialize in SAP projects I am finding it difficult as I don't have a deep experience of SAP from day 1 with ACN and hence projects don't want to take me on. I'd say in joining ACN or any consultancy for that matter, it would be advantageous to have a clear idea of which direction you want to go in and then shape your career in that direction once you arrive. SITE is more strategy consulting (advising clients at a higher level), I&FS (which is where I am) gives you exposure to all phases of a project and different types of projects (a catch all really), whereas SI-SAP is what it says on the box - an exposure to all phases of a project but solely SAP engagements. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the reply ASA. Sorry to jump your post again but can you please I hope you can answer my more specific questions.As I said, I am looking to join ACN and have a choice of applying to Systems Integration and Technology, Analyst Consulting Group (they no longer recruit directly to Management Consulting) or Outsourcing.I want to apply to SI&T because I have a Computing degree and a bit of experience in the area.1) There are six areas being "advertised" in SI&T:- SI (SAP)- SI (Oracle)- AIMS (Accenture Information Management Services)- Technology Consulting (which is broken down into even further subdivisions)- SITE- UK Delivery Centre1) Is AIMS the same as the IS&F you are part of? What does IS&F stand for?2) I am not sure which area I would want to join if I was to be hired and like you say "it would be advantageous to have a clear idea of which direction you want to go in and then shape your career in that direction once you arrive."Are you able to explain a bit about each one (I know you have already to an extent) but particularly the difference in roles and what they offer in terms of future development? HR fail to provide this detail.3) I am trying to work out where I would be best suited. I hope to carry out "business analyst/systems analyst" type work, i.e. what you mentioned about understanding existing business processes and identify the system requirements. Then be involved in design, testing and roll out but not do coding! Will I get this in all the areas - apart from the UK Delivery Centre of course. I was thinking of joining AIMS because knowledge management is big right now with Enterprise 2.0, etc. but in the long run I worry I will specialise as a Information Management consultant and not have exposure to business processes.3) The reason I thought some programming might be involved in all of SI&T is because otherwise I do not understand the difference between a Management Consulting Analyst and a SI&T Analyst, since Accenture's "Management Consulting" is technology focussed anyway. So this is not the case? What's the difference between the two then?Sorry for so many questions but I hope you can help because I am trying to prevent being in your situation 2-3 years from now.

ZB - surely you must have something more to add to this thread!