Process Configuration Framework

Purpose

Use the process configuration framework to build flexibility in controlling behavior of processes and collateral entities (collateral objects and collateral agreements) in your organization. This framework comprises of elements representing different types of controls at various levels in an organization. The interdependencies between these elements ensures a framework that is effective and also easy to implement.

An example of implementing process configuration in a business process:

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

List of process configuration elements and the type of control that they represent:

Process Configuration Element	Represents
Process control area	One or more organizational units. The process control area is the highest level of control in the framework.
Process control key	A collateral entity type. Most of the configuration settings are defined for the control keys. This enables you to determine control at the collateral entity type level.
Business activity	Individual steps in a business process. The business activities can be used to control appearance of screens, user interface and authorizations.
Authorization profile	One or more roles created using the standard authorization objects.
Status profile	Possible user statuses. They must be assigned to process control keys to ensure that user statuses are valid for collateral entity types. Further, when business activities are defined for control keys, the status profile assignment ensures that status transition can be defined for business activites.
Change request type	Type of planned changes for entities that have been set to system status Active . Change request types must be assigned to collateral entity types.
Release procedure	Workflow for collateral entities. To enable workflow for collateral entity types, you must define the required business activities for Release for the collateral entity types.
User interface element	Screens, views and function codes that can be controlled for collateral entity types using business activities.

Implementation Considerations

Define the process control elements and the interdependencies between them in the Implementation Guide (IMG) Customizing for Collateral Management by choosing Start of the navigation path CollateralManagement Next navigation step CollateralAgreements Process Control End of the navigation path and CollateralManagement ObjectManagement Process Control .

Features

Some characteristic features of the process configuration framework are as follows:

Managing Business Activities

Business activities coordinate with other configuration elements assigned to them to implement control at the organizational unit and collateral entity type level. Business activities therefore determine what actions can be performed on collateral entities and the influence of these actions on collateral entities.

Plausibility Control

Business or plausibility checks that ensure consistency of data entered by users. The plausibility framework is defined in such a way that you can differentiate between checks for various business activities and also set their severity for the business activities.

Status Management

The SAP Status Management concepts have been used for implementing status control for collateral entities. This framework ensures that the influence of business processes and legal aspects are considered when collateral entities assume different system and user statuses.

Release Workflow Process

A multi-level workflow framework allows a comprehensive approval process for ensuring the authenticity of data maintained for collateral entities.

Change Management

A detailed concept for managing changes to the data entered for collateral entities. The change request function allows you to define approval process for making any changes to collateral entities that are already used in business (set to system status Active ).

User Interface Configuration

Flexibility to configure user interface at collateral entity type level allows implementation of detailed business logic.

Correspondence

Functions to initiate correspondence for the entity objects.

Authorization Management

Authorization profiles determine the authorizations to execute business activities. Each authorization determines if the user is allowed to perform a business activity on a specified object type and in an organizational unit.

Constraints

The process configuration framework can be used only for the collateral entities - collateral objects and collateral agreements.