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Function documentationPlanning Using a Simplified User Interface

 

With this approach, you are combining data entry using input ready queries with the data structures in SAP ERP. Whether you want to plan by cost center, internal order, or project by combining planning queries and planning functions in the OLAP layer using SAP NetWeaver BW and the database layer in SAP ERP, you can optimize your planning. It gives you more flexibility in how you do your planning and how you view the information.

Information used in the planning process is based on shared master data, which includes data on cost centers and activity types. In addition, the data entered for planning is immediately available for budgeting.

Integration

Cost planning is integrated with budget management for internal order planning and project planning. Cost planning can be completed either before or after budget is allocated. However in most cases, cost planning is completed first and budget is requested before the request moves to budget management for approval. If the budget request is approved, budget is allocated.

The scenario described above is depicted in the following figure:

Note Note

If the budget request is rejected, you can go back to cost planning.

End of the note.

Prerequisites

You have activated the following business function as required:

  • CO, Cost Center Management (FIN_CO_CCMGMT) for overall and primary cost planning on projects

  • CO, Cost Center Planning (FIN_CO_CCPLAN) for primary and activity planning on cost centers and secondary cost planning on project

  • CO, Order Planning (FIN_CO_ORPLAN) for internal order planning and activity dependent planning on cost centers

You have activated the relevant Web Dynpro applications. For more info, see Changing Web Dynpro Applications Using the Configuration Editor.

Features

Planning Applications

The planning applications are WD applications such as Cost Element Planning (Basic) (FCOM_IP_CC_COSTELEM01) that use input-enabled queries, such as Cost Centers: Cost Element Primary by Year (/ERP/COOM_A21_IRQ0002) and Cost Centers: Cost Element Planning by Period (/ERP/COOM_A22_IRQ0002). They allow you to plan, for example, cost by cost center and cost element and aggregate the entered values to give totals for each dimension. They also allow you to enter costs by cost center and year and distribute them to the relevant periods using the distribution planning function.

Structure of Planning Applications

Planning applications are built in the following layers:

  • Database layer

    The database layer is in SAP ERP and contains master data from the work breakdown structure (WBS) elements and tables. The planning applications can check the master data to determine if cost centers allow planning or if they are locked.

  • OLAP layer

    The OLAP layer uses a local SAP Netweaver BW-IP system to perform standard planning functions such as aggregation, disaggregation, and distribution.

  • Presentation layer

    The presentation layer is based on WD applications that can be configured using Floorplan Manager. This allows you to change the queries used by the WD application.

Types of Planning

The types of planning supported include the following:

  • Cost Center Planning

    Cost center planning involves entering plan figures for costs, activities, prices, or statistical key figures for a particular cost center and a particular planning period. For more information, see Cost Center Planning.

  • Internal Order Planning

    Internal order planning is used to used to plan, collect, and settle the costs of internal jobs and tasks and involves planning for overhead cost orders, internal orders with revenues, accrual orders, and capital investment orders. For more information, see Internal Order Planning.

  • Project Planning

    Project planning is used to plan the costs associated with a project or program. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is used to capture the project activities. The WBS consists of WBS elements that describe the tasks to be completed as part of the project. For each WBS element, you can enter the costs, activities, and business processes you expect to occur during your project. For more information, see Project Planning.