Planning Methods (SAP Library - Profitability Analysis (COPA))

Planning Methods

Definition

The planning methods available in the planning framework allow you to plan the profitability segments specified in the planning packages.

Use

In order to be able to run the planning methods, you need to specify in a parameter set (be it permanently saved or defined as an expedient) the settings for each specific planning method. Execute the planning method via the parameter set.

To be in a position to create a parameter set, you need to have defined a planning level. For the parameter set to be executed, at least one planning package should exist at that level (an ad hoc or permanently defined package). (See also Setting Up Planning Content).

Execute planning method

To edit your planning data using the planning methods for sales and profit planning, start the planning framework by choosing Planning ® Edit planning data in the application menu.

Depending on whether a personalization profile has been entered into your user master data, either the complete view of the planning framework or the user-specific view of the personalization profile is displayed. With Set personalization profile, you can select one of the personalization profiles that your user ID has been assigned to.

From those offered, double-click the planning package containing the profitability segments you wish to plan. If no planning packages are offered or none of those offered include the profitability segments that you wish to use in planning, you can define an ad hoc planning package that is valid just for that planning session. You can do this in the context menu of the planning level you are working with (using the right mouse button). You do not need to name the ad hoc planning package, and it is not included in the tree. Instead, you know that you have defined an ad hoc planning package for a particular planning level during the planning session if that planning level is highlighted in green. By double-clicking the relevant planning level, you can select such an ad hoc planning package in order to enter or display planning data.

After you have activated an (ad hoc) planning package, you then choose a planning method from those available. By expanding the node for the relevant planning method, you display the parameter sets defined for that method. If no planning set is offered or none of those offered include the settings with which you wish to execute the planning method, you can define an ad hoc parameter set that is valid just for that planning session. You define it in the same way as you define ad hoc planning packages.

To execute a planning method, you can double-click either the parameter set or the method, whereby the settings for the ad hoc parameter set are used for the execution.

Structure

You can choose from two different types of planning methods. They differ in the way they allow you to enter and edit planning data for the profitability segments.

The first type of planning method is the manual type. With the manual planning methods Enter planning data and Display planning data, the profitability segments specified in the planning package are listed individually for editing or display.

In the parameter set, you chiefly specify how the profitability segments are to be listed. Processing then occurs interactively when the planning method is executed.

You can see directly the results of your processing.

The second type of planning method is the automatic type. With automatic planning methods such as Copy, Top-down distribution, and Delete, all profitability segments that are specified in the planning package are processed.

You specify in the parameter set how these segments are to be processed. When you execute the method, the system automatically processes the segments without your being able to intervene interactively.

You can see the results of the processing in a report in the information system or by using the manual planning method Display planning data.

Note

When using the manual planning method Enter planning data, you can choose from more planning methods. These additional planning methods apply the same logic to the data selected in the entry screen as the above mentioned automatic planning methods apply to the relevant planning package.