When you transfer data to Profitability Analysis, the system derives the appropriate operating concern from the controlling area, and derives the controlling area, in turn, from the company code. In Customizing, therefore, you have to assign each operating concern at least one controlling area. Generally, you assign several controlling areas.

Since the operating concern should reflect the structure of your sales market, one operating concern should normally be sufficient for your entire organization.

You have to specify the data structures for the operating concern (that is, which characteristics and value fields are used) in Customizing for Profitability Analysis. You do this by choosing Structures ® Define Operating Concern.

You assign controlling areas to an operating concern in Customizing for the company structure, under Assignment ® Controlling.