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references/planning-workflows.md
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# SAP Analytics Cloud - Planning Workflows and Calendar Reference
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**Source**: [https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/af4b7e39edd249d3b59fa7d4ab110a7a.html](https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/af4b7e39edd249d3b59fa7d4ab110a7a.html)
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**Last Updated**: 2025-11-22
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---
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## Table of Contents
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1. [Calendar Overview](#calendar-overview)
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2. [Planning Processes](#planning-processes)
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3. [Task Types](#task-types)
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4. [Multi-Level Approvals](#multi-level-approvals)
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5. [Data Locking Integration](#data-locking-integration)
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6. [Task Dependencies](#task-dependencies)
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7. [Notifications and Collaboration](#notifications-and-collaboration)
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8. [Best Practices](#best-practices)
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---
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## Calendar Overview
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The SAP Analytics Cloud calendar organizes collaborative planning workflows, structures planning processes, and monitors progress across teams.
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### Accessing Calendar
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1. Main Menu → **Calendar**
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2. Or via direct URL: `[https://<tenant>/calendar`](https://<tenant>/calendar`)
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### Calendar Views
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| View | Description |
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|------|-------------|
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| **Calendar View** | Traditional calendar grid (day/week/month) |
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| **List View** | Task list with details |
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| **Gantt View** | Timeline with dependencies |
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### Key Capabilities
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- Create and manage planning processes
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- Assign tasks to users and teams
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- Track completion status
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- Configure automatic notifications
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- Schedule data actions and multi actions
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- Integrate data locking with workflows
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---
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## Planning Processes
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A planning process is a container for related tasks that make up a complete planning cycle.
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### Creating a Planning Process
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1. Open Calendar
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2. Click **Create** → **Planning Process**
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3. Configure:
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- Name and description
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- Start and end dates
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- Owner and participants
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4. Add tasks to the process
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### Process Properties
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| Property | Description |
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|----------|-------------|
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| Name | Descriptive name |
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| Description | Detailed explanation |
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| Start Date | Process begins |
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| End Date | Process must complete |
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| Owner | Responsible user |
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| State | Draft, Active, Completed, Cancelled |
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### Process Lifecycle
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```
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Draft → Active → Running → Completed
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↓
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Cancelled
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```
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### Activating a Process
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- **Manual**: Click "Activate" when ready
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- **Automatic**: Activates on start date
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- **Dependencies**: Activates when predecessor completes
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---
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## Task Types
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### 1. General Task
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Standard work assignment for data entry or other activities.
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Q1 Budget Entry
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Description: Enter Q1 budget for your region
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Assignees: Regional Managers (multiple)
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Due Date: 2025-01-31
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Work File: Budget_Entry_Story
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Data Context: Filter to assignee's region
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```
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**Features**:
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- Multiple assignees
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- Work file attachment (story or application)
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- Data context filtering
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- Progress tracking per assignee
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**Assignee Actions**:
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1. Open task from notification or calendar
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2. Click "Open Work File"
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3. Enter/modify data
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4. Click "Submit" when complete
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### 2. Review Task
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Approval workflow for reviewing submitted work.
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Finance Review Q1 Budget
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Description: Review and approve regional budgets
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Reviewers: Finance Director
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Predecessor: Q1 Budget Entry task
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Action on Completion: Trigger data locking
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```
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**Reviewer Actions**:
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- **Approve**: Accept submission, move to next step
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- **Reject**: Return to assignee with comments
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**After Rejection**:
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1. Assignee notified
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2. Task returns to "In Progress"
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3. Assignee revises and resubmits
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4. Reviewer notified for re-review
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### 3. Composite Task
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Combined general task and review in single configuration.
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**Use Cases**:
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- Simple single-level approval
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- When general task and review have same timeline
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- Streamlined configuration
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Departmental Budget Approval
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Assignees: Department Heads
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Reviewer: CFO
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Driving Dimension: Department
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Due Date: 2025-02-15
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```
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**Driving Dimension**:
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- Automatically creates sub-tasks per member
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- Each department head sees only their data
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- Consolidated review for approver
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### 4. Data Locking Task
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Scheduled data lock state changes.
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Lock Q1 Budget
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Model: Finance_Planning_Model
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Data Slice:
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Version: Budget
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Year: 2025
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Quarter: Q1
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Target State: Locked
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Trigger: On predecessor approval
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```
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**Lock States**:
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- **Open**: Anyone with access can edit
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- **Restricted**: Only owner can edit
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- **Locked**: No edits allowed
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### 5. Data Action Task
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Scheduled execution of data actions.
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Run Budget Allocation
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Data Action: Overhead_Allocation
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Parameters:
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Version: Budget
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Year: 2025
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Schedule: After Budget Entry approval
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```
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### 6. Multi Action Task
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Scheduled execution of multi actions.
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**Configuration**:
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```
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Name: Complete Planning Cycle
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Multi Action: Annual_Planning_Workflow
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Parameters:
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Planning_Cycle: 2025
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Trigger: Process end date
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```
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---
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## Multi-Level Approvals
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Implement hierarchical approval workflows using sequential review tasks.
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### Configuration Steps
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1. **Create General Task** for data entry
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2. **Add Review Task Round 1** (first level approver)
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- Set predecessor: General Task
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3. **Add Review Task Round 2** (second level approver)
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- Set predecessor: Review Task Round 1
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4. **Continue** for additional levels
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### Example: 3-Level Approval
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ General Task: Regional Budget Entry │
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│ Assignees: Regional Planners │
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└─────────────────┬───────────────────────┘
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│ Submit
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Review Task Round 1: Regional Review │
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│ Reviewers: Regional Managers │
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└─────────────────┬───────────────────────┘
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│ Approve
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Review Task Round 2: Corporate Review │
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│ Reviewers: Finance Director │
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└─────────────────┬───────────────────────┘
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│ Approve
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Review Task Round 3: Executive Approval │
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│ Reviewers: CFO │
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└─────────────────┬───────────────────────┘
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│ Approve
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Data Locking Task: Lock Approved Budget │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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### Rejection Flow
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```
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Round 2 Rejects
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↓
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Round 1 Reviewer notified (optional)
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↓
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Assignee notified, task reopened
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↓
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Assignee revises data
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↓
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Resubmit through all approval levels
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```
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### Configuration Options
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| Option | Description |
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|--------|-------------|
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| Skip on Rejection | Allow later approver to override earlier rejection |
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| Auto-Approve | Automatically approve if no action in X days |
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| Escalation | Notify manager if task overdue |
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---
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## Data Locking Integration
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### Manual Data Locking via Story
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```javascript
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// Check lock state
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var dataLocking = Table_1.getPlanning().getDataLocking();
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var selection = Table_1.getSelections()[0];
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var state = dataLocking.getState(selection);
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// Set lock state (owner only)
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if (state === DataLockingState.Open) {
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dataLocking.setState(selection, DataLockingState.Locked);
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}
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```
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### Calendar Data Locking Task
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**Trigger Types**:
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- **Scheduled**: Specific date/time
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- **Event-Based**: After task completion
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- **Manual**: User clicks "Submit"
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**Configuration Example**:
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```
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Task: Lock Regional Plans
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Trigger: After "Regional Review" approval
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Model: Finance_Model
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Data Slice:
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Version: Budget_2025
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Region: [Assignee's Region]
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Target State: Locked
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Owner Transfer: Yes (to Finance Director)
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```
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### Multi Action Data Locking Step
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Include data locking in automated workflows:
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```
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Multi Action: Close_Planning_Cycle
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Steps:
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1. Publish Budget version
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2. Run consolidation data action
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3. Lock Budget version
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4. Send notification via API step
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```
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### Data Locking Best Practices
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1. **Lock progressively** - Lock completed regions while others work
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2. **Use restricted state** - Allow corrections before final lock
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3. **Assign owners** - Enable self-service lock management
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4. **Event-based triggers** - Automate locking after approvals
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5. **Document unlock process** - Define who can unlock and when
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---
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## Task Dependencies
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### Dependency Types
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| Type | Behavior |
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|------|----------|
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| **Finish-to-Start** | Task B starts when Task A finishes |
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| **Start-to-Start** | Task B starts when Task A starts |
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| **Finish-to-Finish** | Task B finishes when Task A finishes |
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### Configuring Dependencies
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1. Open task in edit mode
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2. Go to **Dependencies** section
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3. Select predecessor task
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4. Choose dependency type
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5. Set lag time (optional)
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### Automatic Activation
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When a task has dependencies:
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- Remains inactive until predecessor completes
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- Automatically activates on predecessor completion
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- Assignees receive notification
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### Example: Dependent Task Chain
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```
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Budget Planning Process (2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31)
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Task 1: Load Actuals (Data Import)
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Start: 2025-01-02
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Duration: 1 day
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Task 2: Regional Budget Entry
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Start: After Task 1 (Finish-to-Start)
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Duration: 14 days
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Task 3: Corporate Review
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Start: After Task 2 (Finish-to-Start)
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Duration: 5 days
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Task 4: Executive Approval
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Start: After Task 3 (Finish-to-Start)
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Duration: 3 days
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Task 5: Lock and Archive
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Start: After Task 4 (Finish-to-Start)
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Duration: 1 day
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```
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---
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## Notifications and Collaboration
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### Notification Types
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| Event | Recipients | Channel |
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|-------|------------|---------|
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| Task Assigned | Assignees | Email, In-app |
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| Task Due Soon | Assignees | Email |
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| Task Overdue | Assignees, Owner | Email |
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| Submission Received | Reviewers | Email, In-app |
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| Approved | Assignees | Email, In-app |
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| Rejected | Assignees | Email, In-app |
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| Process Complete | Owner | Email |
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### Configuring Notifications
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1. Open process or task settings
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2. Go to **Notifications** tab
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3. Enable/disable notification types
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4. Set reminder schedules
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### Discussion Feature
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Collaborate directly within calendar:
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1. Open task or process
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2. Click **Open Discussion**
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3. Start conversation with @mentions
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4. All participants can view and respond
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### Status Updates
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Track progress with status indicators:
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| Status | Icon | Meaning |
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|--------|------|---------|
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| Not Started | ○ | Task inactive or not begun |
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| In Progress | ◐ | Work underway |
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| Submitted | ◑ | Awaiting review |
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| Approved | ● | Completed successfully |
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| Rejected | ✕ | Returned for revision |
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| Overdue | ⚠ | Past due date |
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---
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## Best Practices
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### Process Design
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1. **Start simple** - Begin with linear workflows
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2. **Test thoroughly** - Run pilot before full deployment
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3. **Document clearly** - Detailed task descriptions
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4. **Set realistic timelines** - Include buffer for delays
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### Task Configuration
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1. **Clear ownership** - One owner per task
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2. **Appropriate assignees** - Match to data access
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3. **Helpful work files** - Pre-configure filters
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4. **Meaningful names** - Describe the action
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|
||||
### Approval Workflows
|
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|
||||
1. **Minimize levels** - Each level adds time
|
||||
2. **Parallel when possible** - Review different data simultaneously
|
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3. **Clear rejection criteria** - What requires rejection
|
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4. **Escalation paths** - Handle non-responsive reviewers
|
||||
|
||||
### Data Locking
|
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1. **Plan lock schedule** - Know when data closes
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||||
2. **Communicate clearly** - Inform users of deadlines
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||||
3. **Emergency unlock process** - Define for corrections
|
||||
4. **Audit trail** - Track lock changes
|
||||
|
||||
### Performance
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Stagger task starts** - Avoid system overload
|
||||
2. **Limit concurrent users** - On complex stories
|
||||
3. **Background data actions** - For long-running operations
|
||||
4. **Monitor process health** - Check for bottlenecks
|
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|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Example: Complete Annual Budget Process
|
||||
|
||||
### Process: Annual Budget 2025
|
||||
|
||||
**Duration**: January 1 - March 15
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 1: Preparation (Jan 1-7)
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 1.1**: Load Prior Year Actuals
|
||||
- Type: Data Import Task
|
||||
- Assignee: System Admin
|
||||
- Duration: 1 day
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 1.2**: Initialize Budget Versions
|
||||
- Type: Multi Action Task
|
||||
- Action: Create_Budget_Versions
|
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- Predecessor: Task 1.1
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 2: Data Entry (Jan 8-31)
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 2.1**: Departmental Budget Entry
|
||||
- Type: Composite Task
|
||||
- Driving Dimension: Department
|
||||
- Assignees: Department Heads
|
||||
- Reviewer: Finance Manager
|
||||
- Work File: Budget_Entry_Story
|
||||
- Duration: 3 weeks
|
||||
|
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### Phase 3: Review (Feb 1-21)
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 3.1**: Finance Review
|
||||
- Type: Review Task
|
||||
- Reviewer: Finance Director
|
||||
- Predecessor: Task 2.1
|
||||
- Duration: 1 week
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 3.2**: Executive Review
|
||||
- Type: Review Task
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||||
- Reviewer: CFO
|
||||
- Predecessor: Task 3.1
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||||
- Duration: 1 week
|
||||
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||||
### Phase 4: Finalization (Feb 22 - Mar 15)
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 4.1**: Lock Budget Data
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||||
- Type: Data Locking Task
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||||
- Trigger: After Task 3.2 approval
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||||
- State: Locked
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||||
|
||||
**Task 4.2**: Generate Reports
|
||||
- Type: General Task
|
||||
- Assignee: Finance Analyst
|
||||
- Predecessor: Task 4.1
|
||||
|
||||
**Task 4.3**: Board Presentation
|
||||
- Type: General Task
|
||||
- Assignee: CFO
|
||||
- Due: March 15
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Documentation Links**:
|
||||
- Calendar Overview: [https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/af4b7e39edd249d3b59fa7d4ab110a7a.html](https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/af4b7e39edd249d3b59fa7d4ab110a7a.html)
|
||||
- Multi-Level Approval: [https://blogs.sap.com/2020/07/10/multi-level-approval-in-sac-using-calendar-tasks/](https://blogs.sap.com/2020/07/10/multi-level-approval-in-sac-using-calendar-tasks/)
|
||||
- Data Locking: [https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/e07d46e950794d5a928a9b16d1394de6.html](https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/e07d46e950794d5a928a9b16d1394de6.html)
|
||||
- Workflow Planning: [https://blogs.sap.com/2022/04/13/sap-analytics-cloud-workflow-planning/](https://blogs.sap.com/2022/04/13/sap-analytics-cloud-workflow-planning/)
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Reference in New Issue
Block a user