The Preparation and Scheduling phase within phase-based maintenance is the phase where the maintenance planner divides the maintenance effort into manageable groups, levels out the workload over several weeks, determines the concrete time period for the requested maintenance work, and checks the availability of all the resources, spare parts and services needed1.
Option B (The order moves to the Preparation phase once it is approved and released) is correct, because the approval and release of the order is the last step of the previous phase (Approval phase)2. Once the order is approved and released, it is ready for preparation and scheduling.
Option D (The configuration of the order type decides whether you use Resource Scheduling or not) is also correct, because the order type determines whether the order is relevant for resource scheduling or not2. Resource scheduling is an optional step in the Preparation and Scheduling phase, where the planner can assign and dispatch the orders and operations to the technicians using the Resource Scheduling apps2.
Option A (If you use the Resource Scheduling apps, you always dispatch orders and operations) is incorrect, because the Resource Scheduling apps allow the planner to either dispatch or assign the orders and operations2. Dispatching means that the planner assigns a specific technician and a specific time slot for the order or operation, while assigning means that the planner assigns only a technician or a team, but not a specific time slot2.
Option C (Maintenance Planning Buckets give you a list of non-approved notifications) is also incorrect, because the Maintenance Planning Buckets app gives the planner a list of approved and released orders that are ready for preparation and scheduling2. The non-approved notifications are handled in the previous phase (Screening phase)2.
Reference:
Phase Model for the Maintenance Process
New Phase Model for the Maintenance Processes in S/4HANA Cloud
Explaining the Phase-based Process
Maintenance Process Phases