Activity Types 

Definition

Activity types classify the activities produced in the cost centers within a controlling area.

Use

To plan and allocate the activities, the system records quantities that are measured in activity units. Activity quantities are valuated using a price (allocation price).

In Overhead Cost Controlling, costs based on the activity quantity of an activity type are posted separately in fixed and variable portions. When you divide the activities of a cost center into activity types, you should consider whether the costs can be allocated effectively to the activity types.

The prices of the activity types of a cost center can be either entered manually, or calculated by the system based on the costs allocated to the activities. Prices can be calculated either using plan costs or actual costs.

You can plan, allocate, and control costs either at the activity type level of a cost center, or at the cost center level. You can enter actual costs at the cost center level. Costs entered at the cost center level are assigned using splitting.

You can also assign the activity type of a cost center directly. This use was designed for certain application areas (such as personnel costs and depreciation postings).

For more information, see Actual Postings to Activity Types.

When the activities produced by a cost center are used by other cost centers, orders, processes, and so on, this means that the resources of the sending cost center are being used by the other objects.

Integration

You can assign one activity type, multiple activity types, or no activity types to a cost center.

Typical examples of activity types for cost centers are machine hours, administrator hours, CPU minutes or units produced.