The invention relates to a method and a system for operating a shelf in a commissioning system, comprising a shelf (1) and a storage and retrieval unit (2) associated therewith for storing and retrieving containers (3), trays or the like in or from the shelf. A height range of the shelf (1) comprising a plurality of superimposed shelf planes (a, b, c, d) can be operated as an autonomous shelf unit (I, II, III or IV) via at least one mechanically coupled longitudinally adjustable storage and retrieval unit (2) and at least two autonomous shelf units are provided for a single shelf. The invention is characterized in that the storage and retrieval unit (2) is displaced from a shelf unit (I; II; III or IV) to another shelf unit (II, III, IV or I, III, IV or I, II, IV or I, II, III) of the same shelf (1) or of another shelf (1′), preferably to another shelf unit which is not yet provided with a storage and retrieval unit of the same kind.