Planning Methods

SOP offers three different planning methods:

Consistent planning

Level-by-level planning

Delta planning

A planning method must be set for any information structure you wish to plan. The planning method of an information structure is defined in Customizing for Sales & Operations Planning (in Set parameters for info structures and key figures).

Consider your choice of planning method carefully because there are significant differences between them (see Planning Methods at a Glance).

The planning method for the Standard SOP information structure (S076) is level-by-level planning.

The main features of each planning method are listed below.

Consistent Planning

Data is stored at the most detailed level of the planning hierarchy.

Planning levels are interdependent: changes made at one planning level immediately affect all other planning levels. The system performs aggregation and disaggregation at runtime.

The proportional factors needed for this automatic disaggregation can be defined in one of two ways: either with reference to previously planned data, or in accordance with constant proportional factors. You can have the system calculate the proportional factors. For more information, see:

Automatic Calculation of the Proportional Factors in Consistent Planning

Calculating the Proportional Factors Automatically

Ways to Aggregate and Disaggregate in Consistent Planning

Planning is based on a self-defined information structure.

You can access planning data from any level.

Your view on the planning table is non-hierarchical: you plan one or more characteristic value combinations.

Advantages of Consistent Planning

Ease of use: you enter planning figures at one level and can rely on data consistency at all other levels.

You create planning data from any perspective you want.

See Example of Consistent Planning.

Level-By-Level Planning

Data is stored at all planning levels.

You can plan each planning level separately.

Planning levels are independent of each other; plans at different levels need not necessarily be consistent.

Both top-down and bottom-up planning are possible.

You can have the system predefine the proportional factors of characteristic values automatically, on the basis of existing (actual or planned) data. For more information, see:

Automatic Calculation of the Proportional Factors in Level-By-Level Planning

Calculating the Proportional Factors Automatically

Ways to Aggregate and Disaggregate in Level-By-Level Planning

Your view on the planning table is hierarchical.

Advantages of Level-By-Level Planning

You have the chance to check and, if necessary, change your data before aggregating or disaggregating it up or down the planning hierarchy.

See Example of Level-By-Level Planning.

Delta Planning

Data entered at one level is aggregated automatically to higher levels at runtime.

Changes made at one level are not automatically disaggregated. The difference remains between the sum of the individual values at the lower level and the total shown at the higher level.

See Ways to Aggregate and Disaggregate in Delta Planning.

Advantages of Delta Planning

You do not need to create a planning hierarchy in order to plan.

This is the planning method available for information structures in the R/3 System Release 2.1 and later.