Which SAP BPS Class?

Question

Hello,
I am in the process of learning BPS and I am wondering what the difference is between SAP's BW370 an SEM215 courses?  I already have knowledge of BW, but am wondering which of these two classes is necessary for me to enter a BPS job.
Do I require both or is one of them enough?
I would appreciate any information.

Answer 1

Gentlemen,
If I may add my 2 cents worth at this late stage, given my experience as an Instructor  SAP Academies ...
In my considered opinion, these are two different sides of the planning component within  (what used to be SEM Planning, and is now) BI Planning.
BW 370 focusses more on the <u>BI-IP functionality</u> aspect of planning and to a lesser extent on the nuances & intricacies of working with <u>SAP-delivered Planning Applications</u>, which is what SEM215 focusses on.
The objective of SEM215 is, I quote,
"- The application of the knowledge gained from BW370 or TBW45 to business issues in accounting issues and implementing them with SEM-BPS
- The analysis focuses on integrating subplans such as sales and profit planning, profit center, overhead cost, personnel cost, investment, balance sheet and liquidity planning into a business plan."
<u><i>If you will, I'd probably look at BW370 as breadth (of functionality) and SEM215 as depth (of usage & application); and is intended as a follow-on course ...</i></u>
Assuming that you're looking to engage in on-site consulting, I'd say that a key success factor, (obviously in addition to the knowledge of functionality) <u><i>is the ability to better map business concepts and requirements to the system using the connections available </i></u>within SEM/ BPS.
This in my view is the utility of SEM215
I quote the curriculum for your reference ...
<u>BW370</u>
Status and tracking system
Setting up planning structures and observing modeling aspects
Setting up customizing and executing planning functions
Setting up a planning query that is ready for input using the BEx Query Designer
Integrating the plan query in different end user interfaces
Displaying different query tools in the planning context
Using the characteristics relationships to integrate correct business characteristics relationships in the planning
Integrating the status and tracking system as a monitoring tool in the planning
<u>SEM215</u>
  Sales and profit planning with hierarchies and variables as part of top-down and bottom-up planning as well as rolling forecast modeling approaches.
Overhead cost planning with primary and secondary costs.
Balance sheet planning using financial planning functions.
Personnel cost planning.
Investment planning for new units and their simulated depreciation
Integrating profit center accounting to the other subplans.
Liquidity planning and cash flow analyses.
Assessing business key figures for success-oriented enterprise controlling.
Showing how the subplans interact with a Web interface as part of a planning folder.
Showing various retractions such as cost center retraction and investment retraction.
As you can see, the orientation is quite different; and I concur with the thought that one does require the foundation of BW370 to provide breadth before one goes off diving into the depths
There, my rather long-winded tupenny worth
Rgds
/Anand Murthy
What I've conveniently ignored is the fact that BW370 is all about the way forward (IP etc.) while SEM215 is still mired in the BW 3.5-ish world. So, you're not going to do work on the latest & greatest environment. Yet, the content is valuable & the understanding can be carried thru' into your working env. (tho' u might end up doing a sh*t-load of config to re-create the self same Planning Apps in BI 7.0 IP). I'm sure that this'll change pretty soon, as SAP's already brought a few Planning Apps over (B/S Plg comes to mind), albeit in a somewhat skeletal manner; so you can be sure that the rest'll follow pretty soon.
There!
Now, I'm truly done!
Cheers!