R12.1 RUP7 New and Changed features

(For the previous release RUP6, see my blog here)

For 12.1, patch 18004477 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.7 (HRMS 12.1 RUP7) was released in May-2014. New and updated features are tracked in document - Oracle Human Resources Management Systems Readme, HRMS Release Update Pack 7 for Release 12.1 (Doc ID 1645859.1)

Known Issues on Top of Patch 18004477 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.7 (HRMS 12.1 RUP7) (Doc ID 1636758.1)

Key interesting enhancements are:

Payroll:

• Payroll Dashboard collates payroll-processing related data, that enables administrators to monitor different payroll-related processes. From the dashboard, admins can also run payroll, retry or rollback processes. With this release, a new capability for Payroll Readiness has been included.
• WebADI for mass creation of Retro Assignments: Until now, users could only create one retro assignment at a time. With this release, Oracle has provided a WebADI to create or update multiple retro assignments or entries using a WebADI (see picture 1 below). When selecting the checkbox "Download to Spreadsheet", if there are any changes, then users must ensure to select the appropriate value as Update or Delete in the Entry Delete/Update column to enable the application to commit the changes to the database, failing which the application does not save any changes. While uploading the changes to the database, users now have the option to commit all rows or commit each row prior to upload (see second picture below). When users select the Commit All Rows option, then the application validates the information and only, on successful validation, uploads the information. If the validation process fails for any of the records, then the application does not upload the details to the database. When users select the Commit Each Row option (see the second screen capture), then the application validates each record and commits to the database on a successful validation.

Learning Management

• Remove the association between a Category and Administrator Group: If access to a category is restricted using an administrator group, then this restriction can now be removed by the learning administrator, who can access that particular category.
• Non Java adapter to play SCROM content online: OLM now provides a non java based adapter (using Javascript based API), to avoid errors that learners may face when on upgrade or downgrade of JRE versions on their local machines. The administrator can now select Non Java adapter or Signed Java Applet adapter while setting up a new adapter on the content server which will be used to play SCROM content. The Non Java based adapter is independent of client JRE and uses only the content server’s JRE. 
• Manual updates to Learner Status for online class: Learning Administrators can now manually update a learner's status for an online class using a new "Update Player Status" button in the Enrollments and Subscriptions page or the Enrollments page of the class. Administrators can select "Passed" or "Failed" status for scored content, and "Completed" status for content that is not scored. 
• Prevent closing/ collapsing of Player Outline: In update Offering Page, the Player Preferences section provides two new check boxes - Always Show Outline, Always Show Outline Expanded. This prevents inexperienced learner users from closing or collapsing outline without realizing there are many more chapters to take.
• Contact Learners Using Email: The "notify" icon on classes enabled Administrator to enter subject and message for learners in a particular status - this message would then appear on learner home page. With this new option, there is now a way to contact learners by email via notify features - for this, a new "Mail Addresses" text box has been provided. 

Performance Management

• Rebuild Supervisor Hierarchy: In this release, Oracle Performance Management provides a new republish option 'Rebuild Supervisor Hierarchy' in the Update Plan: Review, Republish Options page. The supervisor hierarchy is rebuilt when HR changes occur. Using their Performance Management Task List, new managers can view the performance management plans of their subordinates. If HR changes occur during the objective setting period, then plan administrators can use the Rebuild Supervisor Hierarchy option so that the new managers can access the scorecards of their subordinates and continue with the objective setting process. Approved objectives are retained in the scorecard, when this option is used. If HR changes occur during the appraisals period, then rebuilding the supervisor hierarchy will not impact the main appraisers of the appraisals. 

Self Service

• Transaction Monitor: This enabled HR Professionals (through HR Professional V4.0 responsibility), Managers (via MSS responsibility) and Employees (via ESS responsibility) to view the track and view details of self service transactions, including those that are pending approval, complete, deferred, or are in error. Navigating to the details page of the transaction allows to view approval history, comments and attachments. The search criteria to search for transaction includes criteria such as function name, transaction initiator, person for whom the transaction is initiated, and the status of the transaction.

There are no new features in AME, Oracle HCM Configuration Workbench, Oracle iRecruitment, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Succession Planning,   .

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits, Compensation Workbench, Core HR (one new feature around HR Help Desk Person Record), Oracle Time and Labor (two new features, including a WebADI to upload Assignment Time Information)

(For the next release RUP8, see my blog here)