The main functional areas handled by project management systems (see the menu items about 'process blocks') and processes are project structures, costing plan and budget, scheduling and dates, resources and work centers, actual charges (T&E), and progress management. It is unlikely that one single system will be able to handle all features even of one of these areas well across all layers of enterprise project management. Therefore it is important to look on each layer separatly at each one of the functions.  

Let's go through a few examples. At the enterprise layer (in our assumption usually handled by SAP) the WBS may get defined, plus some general milestones and resource and date parameters. Work center master records may be set up in SAP, the high-level budget control will be performed by SAP CO, and actual charges may hit the project structures through the posting of goods or service receipts or invoice postings. These aspects cut across most project management functions - without completely satisfying a single one! 

Networks and activity details may need to be created on the project owner's level, detailed cost planning may require the planning of resource assignments, and actual charges may need to tie into progress reporting to allow for earned value analysis (EVA).  

It is therefore important to keep an open mind and consider that project functions cut across levels and may need to be split up accordingly. This is then where interfaces and standards play a critical role.

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