Expert Mode for Structure Setup 

Use

If you are a power user, you can use the Expert Mode for Structure Setup to make settings for the central structures and catalogs. In this case, you are only required to create the top node of the organizational hierarchy in the expert mode, whereas all other objects and structures can be created in the corresponding Web applications as well. The Web applications offer the advantage that many objects and the connections between them are created automatically by the system, whereas you need to create them individually in the expert mode. For example, all objects specific to org units are perceived technically in the expert mode as separate objects that you need to create and connect to the central objects. In the Web applications, the objects specific to org units are created automatically when you accept them for the organizational unit.

Since the expert mode does not offer any MIC-specific flow logic and does not provide any automatic connections, we recommend that you use the Web applications for structure setup, and apply the expert mode more for finding errors.

Once all objects have been defined, the expert mode is particularly useful for running analyses and tracking errors. The error search can be started from any object. For any given object, you can display the objects that are related to that object through the evaluation path.

Integration

The expert mode for structure setup is found in the Implementation Guide (IMG). Choose Management of Internal Controls ® Structure Setup ® Structure Setup: Expert Mode.

From the technical standpoint, the expert mode for structure setup is an additional view of the Organizational Plan Mode function in the Organizational Management (BC-BMT-OM) component. If you have already used this application to create the organizational structure of your company, you can also use this structure in the Management of Internal Controls. For general information about the Organizational Plan Mode, see the documentation on the SAP Web Application Server under Business Management ® Organizational Management ® Organizational Plan Mode.

Features

Every possible structure type is defined by SAP with a start object type as well as an evaluation path. The structure types relevant for MIC are the organizational hierarchy, the account group hierarchy, the central process catalog, and the management control catalog. The start object defines the root node of the structure. The connections that are permitted between different object types within the structure are defined in the evaluation path. The central process catalog, for example, has the Central Process Group as the start object type, and this is connected to other central process groups, central processes and process steps, control objectives, and risks. There are different types of connections, such as Includes or Is assigned to. You can display the precise definition of the evaluation path for a start object type by creating or selecting a start object and then choosing  with the quick info text Display Evaluation Path.

For a selected object, you can only create objects that are permitted by the current evaluation path. If an object has more than one evaluation path, you can choose  with the quick info text Goto to switch between the evaluation paths.

When creating a control objective, ensure that it is only assigned to one central process and that the validity period for that control objective falls within the validity period of the central process. This is the prerequisite for correct representation in the Web applications.

When the structures have been created, the various flexible search functions of the expert mode allow you to call up any object and display all connected objects. This makes it easier to track errors.

Displaying Local Objects

Once objects have been assigned in the Web applications for the assignment of the central processes or of the management controls to the organizational unit, these accepted, local objects are also visible in the expert mode. For technical reasons, the central objects and the accepted objects are displayed as separate entities in the expert mode. The general attributes are located beneath the central object (white symbol), whereas the attributes specific to organizational units are located beneath the local object (green symbol). The following object types can have central as well as local objects:

●      Process group

●      Process

●      Process step

●      Account group

●      Management control

The local process step does not have a central equivalent because it only ever applies to one organizational unit.

In the expert mode, the relationship between the central and local objects is represented by connections in the evaluation path.

Validity Period of Objects

If you create an object from the menu (consequently the root object of a structure), you can specify the start date of the period of validity. With the default settings, no end date is specified, leaving the validity period open-ended. If you want to apply an end date, schedule the object by choosing  with the quick info text Schedule.

If you create an object in the overview area (consequently objects subordinated to the root object), the object is automatically created with the same validity period as that of the superordinate object. If you change the validity period of the subordinate object, the validity period is not actually changed; instead, the system creates an additional version of the object with the new validity period. To override this automatic setting, choose Settings ® Validity Period Query: On/Off (user-specific setting). When the validity period query is activated, the validity period is not assigned automatically; instead, the system asks you to specify the validity period when you create an object.

Activities

Create Organizational Hierarchy, Account Group Hierarchy, or Management Control Catalog

Since each of these structures only consists of one object type, the same creation procedure applies in each case.

...

       1.      Under Edit, create the root object of the structure you want to create.

       2.      Use the search function to select the object you created.

       3.      Select the object and choose Create.

Since the evaluation path only allows the addition of objects of the same type, the system automatically creates a corresponding object.

       4.      Enter the details of the object.

Creating the Central Process Catalog

Since the central process catalog consists of various object types, the creation procedure depends on the object type involved.

...

       1.      Create a central process group by choosing Edit ® Create Central Process Group.

       2.      Use the search function to select the process group you created.

       3.      Select the process group and choose Create.

       4.      In the dialog box that appears, select the object type that you want to create beneath the root node, such as Central Process.

       5.      Enter the details for the central process.

       6.      Select the central process in the structure and choose Create.

       7.      In the dialog box that then appears, select the object type.

       8.      To create more objects for the central process catalog, repeat the above steps.

Perform Error Search

...

       1.      Use the search function to select the object that you want to use in the error search.

       2.      Use the evaluation paths for this object to analyze which objects it is connected to.