Planning Package
Definition
The planning package takes the characteristics and key figures selected in the planning level and serves to further restrict characteristics whose values have not already been restricted in the planning level. At the same time the planning package describes the data area on which the planning functions are to operate.
Use
You create planning packages to define subtasks within the overall planning process and to keep these subtasks separate. As you define the content of the various planning topics by including a selection of key figures and characteristics in planning levels, you can allocate the planning subtasks you have defined as planning packages to the relevant employees and have these processed independently. In this way you can break down the sales planning according to customers by including the characteristic customer in the planning level. You can restrict the characteristic in different planning packages in such a way that each package can be processed by the employee who is responsible for the relevant customer.
Restricting characteristics in the planning package
In the planning package you can make further restrictions that have not already been made in the superordinate planning level. In this way, you define the data area on which the planning functions are to operate. Therefore, the definition of a planning package is a prerequisite for carrying out a planning function.
In the planning level you determine whether a characteristic can be restricted at the subordinate planning package level or not. The system default is that the characteristics are restricted at the planning level; in this case the relevant fields in the subordinate planning packages are not ready-for-entry.
For more information see Planning Level.
Copying planning packages
To support you in creating several planning packages with the same or similar structure the system provides the function Copy planning package. This function enables you to copy a planning package with a new name into the same planning level as the original planning package.
Structure
A planning package is defined by its name and the restrictions to the characteristics taken from the planning level. For documentation purposes, you can store a textual description for the planning package.
Ad Hoc Planning Package
The system automatically creates an ad hoc planning package for each planning level. This ad hoc package can be used as a user-defined planning package. However, you should note the following points:
·
The
settings that you make for an ad hoc package are valid only for the duration
of the current planning session. When you end the planning session, the
settings for the ad hoc package are reset.
This makes the ad hoc package perfect if you want to display or edit
explorative data without having to create permanent planning objects in order
to do so. For the last purpose (for example for the delimitation of certain
planning areas for recurring tasks), do not use the ad hoc package but create
your own permanent package.
· The ad hoc planning package is not locked and can, therefore, be changed simultaneously by all users. For the duration of the planning session, every user has an individual view of the ad hoc package, independent of the settings that other users make in it.
· The ad hoc planning package cannot be deleted from the planning level.
See also: