Hello experts!

We are in the middle of cutover preparation to implement 7.1 ChaRM.  We have a 2-system SolMan landscape. Validation testing was performed in the development system and was successful.  We are performing a mock cutover using the sandbox system to confirm cutover steps.
Transports were imported from the development system to sandbox to test the cutover steps. Mock cutover took place in the sandbox, however processing is not as expected.  

In tcode SM_CRM, in the Details assignment block, when creating a new Request for Change, business partner Change Manager is being copied to the business partner "Approver (Security only)" and then the business partner Change Manager is set to blank.

This did not occur in development system during validation testing.

I did open a issue with SAP, however I'm hoping one of the experts out there can answer before they can!

Steps to Recreate Problem

Entering the partners with no Categorization updated yet...

Selecting SAVE. Partner “Approver (only Security)” is still blank and is correct….

Then, I enter Category 1 (Business Area) and Leave other Categories blank. I do not SAVE yet.

Partner “Approver (only Security)” is filled with Partner Change Manager’s value and Partner Change Manager is set to blank….

Analysis

Trying to thinking of what questions you may have about the config, here is what I can think of so far....

Access Sequence - Partner "Approverl (only Security)" is assigned to partner function SMSO0001. It has no Access Sequence assigned.

BRFplus Rules -  There are rules assigned to determine partner SMSO0001 (Approver). However, the rules only determine when Category 2 (Scenario) is set, not when Category 1 (Business Area) is set.   The error takes place right after the Category 1 is filled in, so it makes me think this is the issue, but the BRF rules are not set to check for that category code. 

There is no value set when the Category is not one of these values. That worked when testing in the dev system, so I do not think that is the issue.

Partner UI Definitiions

In the UI, partner Change Manager is defined as Partner 3 and partner "Approver (only Security)" is assigned to Partner 4.

Those match the values in “Specify Partner Function Display in Transactions”...

Rule Policy for Approval Management

This rule does exist to set partner SMSO0001, but only when Category 2 is set to Emergency. When recreating the problem, Category 2 is not set yet. Only Category 1 is.

How Imports were done from Development System to Sandbox for Mock Cutover

In case it matters, here is how I imported some of the changes from Development system to the test system.

Categorization -  I enabled Schema Imports via RFC in IMG. Then, used the Import button in UI to import. Then re-activated.

Approval Procedure Rule Policy - The Approval Procedure Determination was transported from development to sandbox using tcode CRMD_ERMS_TRANS_RULE.   The resulting Transport of Copies was imported to sandbox.

I hope one of you can help me resolve this quickly! Let me know if you need more details on the config!!