R12.2 RUP10 New and Changed features

(For the previous release RUP9, see my blog here)

For 12.2, patch 24007222 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.10 (12.2 HRMS RUP10) - was released in May 2017. Refer to Doc ID 2233840.1 for notes on applying the R12.HR_PF.C.Delta.10 Release Update Pack and for links to product release notes.

Also see Doc ID 2233908.1 for known issues on top of patch 24007222 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.10(12.2 HRMS RUP10)


Key interesting enhancements are:

New Features - Global:

• Use Dynamic Assignment Sets with Web ADI
• Enable Costing Hierarchy for Balancing Segments Added to Pay Action Parameter Form
• Rollback of Transfer to General Ledger Restricted if Journal Import has been run 
• Enhanced Costing Detail Report

There are no new features in Succession Planning, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Self Service, Oracle Performance Management, iRecruitment, HRMS Configuration Workbench, AME, Core HR, Compensation Workbench.

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits (US specific features to generate 1095-Cs & record employee COBRA Healthcare Offer Details),  Oracle Time and Labor (several new profile options, calendar view of Timecards, shift premium deduction charges & credit overtime as absence).

R12.2 RUP9 New and Changed features

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

For 12.2, patch 22559919 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.9 (12.2 HRMS RUP9) / EBS 12.2.6 (Patch 21900901) - was released on 15-Sep-2016. New and updated features are tracked in document - Oracle E-Business Suite Product Specific Release Notes, Release 12.2.6 (Doc ID 2114173.1). Refer to Doc ID 2113949.1 for notes on applying the R12.HR_PF.C.Delta.9 Release Update Pack.

Also see Doc ID 2162959.1 for known issues on top of patch 22559919 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.9 / EBS 12.2.6 (Patch 21900901)

Key interesting enhancements are:

User Experience: 

• New HTML based AOL setup UIs for Users, Responsibilities, Flexfields.
• Release 12.2.5 introduced an updated Look and Feel for Oracle Application Framework-based pages, the Oracle Alta UI. This means the profile option - Oracle Applications Look and Feel - needs to be set to "Alta Look and Feel", or a look and feel that extends it. Taking a look back in time, historically, we have had these changes in look & feel across the years: 

                12.0 to 12.2.2 - Swan Desktop Look and Feel

                12.2.3 - Skyros Look and Feel or Swan Desktop Look and Feel

                12.2.4 - Skyros Look and Feel

                12.2.5 onwards - Alta Look and Feel

The table below shows some examples of look and feel changes, and also examples of changes to generic functionality:

Description	Comment
Change in login page: The look and feel has changed to make the login page friendlier to use across various screen sizes. This change does not impact customers using SSO, as the login page is not used when logging in via SSO.	Tip: If the buttons on this page do not render correctly when using Internet Explorer, try removing the website from Compatibility View Settings.
Icons at the top right have changed to also be more intuitive & mobile friendly. Depending on the version you currently are on, these icons may already be visible for you in some cases.
The appearance of buttons, fonts, layout of tabs and colours have changed for Oracle pages. These are cosmetic in nature and do not impact functionality.	Previously: Now:
The navigator has changed for Professional Users (cosmetic changes only).	Previously: Now:
The screen to submit concurrent programs and requests has added functionality.	1)     There are new buttons at the bottom of the “Find Requests” screen, which allow one less click when submitting a new request from this screen. 2)     There are new fields/ buttons on “View Requests” screen:       These new buttons or options are designed to make it simpler to use the screens by reducing number of clicks needed to get to the end result. Note: The new "Auto Refresh" functionality requires the following system profile to be set: Concurrent: Auto-refresh View Request Timer (secs). I would recommend a setting of 60 seconds or more.
WebADI look and feel changes	The company logo may now show at the top after launching a WebADI.

Payroll: 

• (Delivered in RUP8): A new WebADI has been delivered to add assignments to an assignment set. The function name is Manage Assignment Set (PAY_WS_ASGSET).
• (Delivered in RUP8 for US and CA legislation only): Self Service Bank Account validation can now be enabled based on the profile option - PAY: Enable Personal Bank Account Validation. When this validation is enable, the employee is required to enter their account number twice. 
• (Delivered in RUP8): A new interface delivered via a new function (PAY_WS_RETRO_RESULTS) allows to review the results of RetroPay Enhanced process (Navigation --> View --> RetroPay Enhanced Results) - see screen capture below. We have had the "Retropay Status" window since ages to allow a review of the results of Retro Notifications Report. So this new interface is a good pair-up which allows to see assignment actions created by RetroPay Enhanced process, with a drill down to the retro element entries created. I am hoping to see a further feature where a report or screen is provided to show or export all retro element entries created by the RetroPay Enhanced process. 

Learning Management:

• (Delivered in RUP8): The Class Details page now includes an additional section to view the session details of the class (if any). The Class Details page is what learners already use to view class enrollment status. 

There are no new features in Succession Planning, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Self Service, Oracle Performance Management, iRecruitment, HRMS Configuration Workbench, AME, Core HR, Compensation Workbench.

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits (US specific features to generate 1095-Cs & record employee COBRA Healthcare Offer Details),  Oracle Time and Labor (several new profile options, calendar view of Timecards, shift premium deduction charges & credit overtime as absence).

(For the next release (RUP10), see my blog here)

R12.2 RUP8 New and Changed features

(For the previous release RUP7, see my blog here)

For 12.2, patch 21507777 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.8 (12.2 HRMS RUP8) was released on 27-May-2016. New and updated features are tracked in document - Applying R12.HR_PF.C.Delta.8 Release Update Pack (Doc ID 2113297.1)

Also see Doc ID 2113772.1 for known issues on top of patch 21507777 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.8 (12.2 HRMS RUP8)

Key enhancements are:

Payroll: 

• A new WebADI has been delivered to add assignments to an assignment set. The new function is called "Manage Assignment Set", using which you can now create/ delete assignment sets and add new assignments to the assignment set.
• Useful feature Alert! A new interface delivered via a new function (PAY_WS_RETRO_RESULTS) allows to review the results of RetroPay Enhanced process. We have had the "Retropay Status" window since ages to allow a review of the results of Retro Notifications Report. So this new interface is a good pair-up which allows to see assignment actions created by RetroPay Enhanced process, with a drill down to the retro element entries created. I am hoping to see a further feature where a report or screen is provided to show or export all retro element entries created by the RetroPay Enhanced process. I will post screen captures once I have had a chance to look at this feature further,
• For US and Canada only: Using the profile option "PAY: Enable Personal Bank Account Validation", a validation can be enabled which will force employees to enter bank account twice (to ensure correct account is entered). When an employee enters the account number the first time, the value is masked and the option to copy is disabled. Hoping to see this feature rolled out to other legislations soon.
• International Payroll users get some new features, including support for generating .pdf payslips, cash management reconciliation for EFT payments and Payroll Dashboard (which is available via Payroll Professional responsibility). 

Learning Management:

• The Class Details page now includes an additional section to view the session details of the class (if any). The Class Details page is what learners already use to view class enrollment status. 

There are no new features in AME, Compensation Workbench, HRMS Configuration Workbench, Core HR, iRecruitment, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Performance Management, Oracle Self Service,

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits (one US specific feature to generate 1095-Cs), Oracle Succession Planning (Talent Matrix), Oracle Time and Labor (several new profile options).

(For the next release (RUP9), see my blog here)

R12.2 RUP7 New and Changed features

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

*** This is a Work in Progress Document ***
For 12.2, patch 20000400 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.7 (12.2 HRMS RUP7) / EBS 12.2.5 (Patch 19676458) was released in Oct-2015. This is also known as Release 12.2.5, which is a major release. New and updated features are tracked in document ID 2049015.1.

Known Issues on Top of Patch 20000400 - R12.HR_PF.C.DELTA.7) / EBS 12.2.5 (Patch 19676458) are tracked in Doc ID 2056506.1

Key enhancements are:

Self Service: 

• Oracle Fusion's simplified menus are available in 12.2 for better transactional user experience. New delivered menus include: Manager Self Service - Simplified & Employee Self Service - Simplified (or specifically for AU: Simplified AU Manager Self-Service Container & Simplified AU Employee Self-Service Container).
• Using personalization, you can display a person pop-up card for the employee name field (containing details such as Organization, Work and Mobile phone number)
• Organization Chart and Talent Profile pages now include support for multiple assignments of an employee (where previously, these pages supported only one assignment of subordinates)
• Organization Chart also supports launching personal actions as a workers (previously, only manager could launch manager actions) 

Oracle Time and Labor

• New Concurrent Program - Time Entry Detail Report - allows to view the timecard explosion data before a timecard is approved and transferred to OTLR module
• The Hour Deduction Policy form has an additional "Unit of Measure" field available that allows deduction rule to be defined in minutes. 
• Timecard integration with HR Absences is extended to timecards which have OTLR feature enabled, with a new Days to Hours Conversion Factor field enabled for day based absence type elements.
• The Earning Policy form has a new value "Day of the Week" in the LOV for "Type" field. This allows time entered on specific day of the week to be treated differently from rest of the days for determining regular and overtime.
• The existing concurrent program "Transfer time from OTL to BEE" has been enhanced to enable parallel run in multiple business groups. 

There are no new features in Oracle Labor Distribution

AME, Compensation Workbench, HRMS Configuration Workbench, Core HR, iRecruitment, , Oracle Performance Management, Oracle Self Service,

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits (one US specific feature to generate 1095-Cs), Oracle Succession Planning (Talent Matrix), Oracle Time and Labor (new report ).

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

R12.1 RUP9 New and Changed features

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

For 12.1, patch 21980909 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.9 (HRMS 12.1 RUP9) was released in May-2016. New and updated features are tracked in document - Oracle Human Resources Management Systems Readme, HRMS Release Update Pack 9 for Release 12.1 (Doc ID 2113189.1)

Known Issues on Top of Patch 21980909 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.9 (HRMS 12.1 RUP9) (Doc ID 2113768.1)

Key interesting enhancements are (it's a short list this time):

Payroll:

• We have a new WebADI to add assignments to an assignment set. The new function is called "Manage Assignment Set", using which you can now create/ delete assignment sets and add new assignments to the assignment set. It would have been lovely to had there been a feature to "delete" existing assignments from the assignments sets (so that the same assignment set can be re-used easily across multiple payroll runs), but from what I have read so far, I do not believe this feature is available. I am yet to try out the WebADI though - so if any of you has tried this out, please can you include your experience in the comments below. 
• Good news also for folks on International Payroll is that the Payroll Dashboard has now been released for you. Payroll Dashboard is available under Payroll Professional responsibility, and this function should work out-of-the-box. The Payroll Dashboard does have some useful features, so if you haven't had a look at, I would encourage you to. (A note for myself: At some point in the future, I need to blog about my experience with Payroll Dashboard). 

There are no new features in AME, Compensation Workbench, HRMS Configuration Workbench, Core HR, iRecruitment, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Learning Management, Oracle Performance Management, Oracle Self Service,

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits (one US specific feature to generate 1095-Cs), Oracle Succession Planning (Talent Matrix), Oracle Time and Labor (several new profile options).

R12.1 RUP8 New and Changed features

(For the previous release RUP7, see my blog here)

For 12.1, patch 20000288 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.8 (HRMS 12.1 RUP8) was released in May-2015. New and updated features are tracked in document - Oracle Human Resources Management Systems Readme, HRMS Release Update Pack 8 for Release 12.1 (Doc ID 1989740.1)

Known Issues on Top of Patch 20000288 - R12.HR_PF.B.DELTA.8 (HRMS 12.1 RUP8) (Doc ID 1992029.1)

Key interesting enhancements are:

Payroll:

• Improved Payroll Dashboard, which includes support for pre-readiness checks for AU, support for display of assignment without payment methods, and improved performance. Users can use the extensible lookup PAY_DB_MONITOR_PROCESSES to configure localization specific payroll processes.   When configured, the payroll dashboard displays the list of processes within the Payroll Process Details section under Other Process Details Region of the Process Monitor tab.
• Third Party Personal Payment Method: The application is now designed to auto populate the bank details in the personal payment method of the employees for third party payments using the bank details specified at Payee Organization. For this, Additional Information is enabled for Organization Classification of Payee. Users can override these details if required. (This feature is available for AU and US only at this point).
• New Costing of Payment Reports: New programs have been introduced for costing of payment reports: Costing of Payment Summary Report, Costing of Payment Detail Report, Costing of Payment Breakdown Report

Performance Management

• Reopen Scorecards that are at the Transferred from Plan Status when a Plan is Republished: From this release, when a plan administrator selects the Reevaluate Plan Population option in the Update: Plan Review page and if the application finds that the worker is eligible to become part of the plan population again, then appraisals and scorecards with Transferred from Plan status are reopened so that the previously worked details are available to view and update using the Employee Self-Service or Manager Self-Service responsibilities.

There are no new features in AME, Compensation Workbench, HRMS Configuration Workbench, Core HR, Oracle Labor Distribution, Oracle Succession Planning,

The following modules have new features, which are not summarized in this blog - Advanced Benefits, Oracle iRecruitment (one new feature for OFCCP compliance for United States), Oracle Learning Management (two new features, including ability to create enrollments with a past date for learners in offline synchronous classes, i.e. classroom based classes), Oracle Self Service, Oracle Time and Labor (the integration between HR Absences and OTL Time card is extended to timecards which have OTLR feature enabled).

(For the next release RUP9, see my blog here)

Supplementary Role Information - Configuration in Oracle HRMS

You can record information about any roles an employee or contingent worker holds which are not part of their contract; for example, Fire Warden or member of a workers' representative council.

You enter information about supplementary roles in the People > Enter and Maintain > Others > Supplementary Roles window.

From Oracle Documentation, there are two processes of assigning supplementary roles, depending on whether or not the role being undertaken by a person is an elected supplementary role.  The following graphic illustrates this:

The configuration steps are:

11.       Define a new Job Group, which will be used to group Supplementary Roles.

Work Structures > Job > Job Group

 

22.       Define Job (or Supplementary Role) under this Job Group

 

33.       Optionally, define the Representation Body. This is the organization that the employee is representing.

Work Structures > Organization > Description

The Organization Classification must be Representative Body

 

Then click on “Others” button, and enter details for Constituencies/ Representative Body. The below screen capture shows detailed entered for Representative Body. Notice that the job group selected here matches the new Job Group created above:

 

44.       Finally, query the worker against who m Supplementary Role information needs to be recorded

People > Enter and Maintain > Others > Supplementary Roles

In the above window:

Job Group: Shows all job groups, except the default job group

Role: Shows all roles under a job group, if that job group is selected first.

All other fields are optional

Representative Body: Lists the Organization that are associated to the Job Group

Primary Contact: Indicated whether employee is the primary contact for the Representative Body

Start Date/ End Date/ Confidentiality Agreement Date/ End of Rights Date: Are for capturing various dates related to the role.

 There is another window to capture Elections. This window is not covered as part of this blog.

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)

Compensation Workbench - Recap of Enhancements (until 12.1 RUP7)

At the outset, a disclaimer is due - this article is a report from a presentation from Oracle HR User Group 2014.

My intent behind putting up this article is to serve as a starting point for folks who have implemented Compensation Workbench may be 2-3 years back, and are just getting started to implement or support another CWB client. Obviously, this article will start to get dated and will need revisions as newer versions are out. But for now, here it is, served fresh straight from the grill:

Recap of Recent Releases	New Features
R12.1 HRMS RUP7 (Released May 2014)	1.Optionally Disable Drill Down Link in Online Total Compensation Statements 2.Position Title added to Total Compensation Statements 3.Download/Upload Comments to Spreadsheet
R12.1 HRMS RUP6* (Released May 2013) *Also included in Release 12.2.3	1.Email Employee Compensation Statements & Total Compensation Statements 2.Compensation Detail Report - Enhanced Performance 3.Back Out CWB Postprocess
R12.1 HRMS RUP4 (Released June 2011)	1.Spreadsheet Download option added to audit & other reports 2.Run Back-out Compensation Workbench Life Events for Single Employee 3.Suppress In Progress Compensation from Displaying Employee History 4.Download Proposed Grade Range, Midpoint & Comparatio to Spreadsheet
Release 12.1.3 (Released July 2010)	1.View Performance and Promotion History Popup in Worksheet 2.Control “Look Back” Period for Viewing Employee Appraisals in Worksheet 3.Post Zero Salary Increases 4.Refresh Plan, Employee and Summary Data from CWB Home Page

For more information, see MOS Document 1557244.1 - Oracle Compensation Release Notes, Release 12.1 HRMS RUP7

Here's whats next: 
Release 12.2.4 is targeted for a release in 2014. This includes digitally signed email statements and UI enhancements to improve CWB user experience.

R12.1 RUP6 New and Changed features

(For the previous release RUP5, see my blog here)

Patch 16000686 (R12.HR_PF.B.delta.6) was released on 31-May-2013. For complete details around the new and changed features in this release, please see the My Oracle Support Note 1549442.1 - Oracle Human Resources Management Systems Readme, HRMS Release Update Pack 6 for Release 12.1. Issues with RUP6 are documented in Doc ID 1538636.1.
A quick round up of the significant changes is captured below:

1. Compensation Workbench: 
        a. Email Comp Statements: Rather than print hard copies of compensation letters and manually distribute them, Comp Admins can now securely email the statements.This includes a feature to send statements to a "test" email ID to confirm before sending out to the larger employee population. The emailing feature is also enabled for TCS.
        b. Better performance for Comp Detail Report: A new program called Refresh Compensation Summary needs to be run prior to running the Compensation Detail Report.

2. Core Payroll:
        a. Payslip Modeler: This enables employees to perform a payroll what-if analysis (in effect, allowing them to run a QuickPay after selecting various elements from a list). To enable this,
                i. Set the profile options HR: Enable Payroll Simulation and HR: Enable Multiple Assignments for Payroll Simulation to Y
                ii. Attach Payslip Modeling menu to any custom self-service responsibility. The seeded Employee Self Service as well as Payroll Professional responsibility already have this menu attached.

3. iRecruitment: 
        A number of minor improvements have been including ability to view interviews scheduled where manager or recruiters are only recruiting team members and ability to create tests or assessments in multiple languages.

4. Learning Management: 
        a. Course Pictures: A new region has been added to the create and update course pages, which allows the pictures to be seen on Learner Home, Learning Path, Learning Catalog and Course Catalog pages.
        b. Automatically subscribe Learners to Learning Certifications: New learners can be automatically subscribed to learning certificates based on 'number of days' (doesn't apply for those based on dates). The subscription is controlled by defining a learning group and running a new concurrent program - Process Automatic Certification Subscription.
There are other new features in this module as part of this release. Please refer to above MOS note for details.

5. Performance Management: 
        a. New Questionnaire Administration: A "Questionnaire Administration-New" function available via HR Professional responsibility allows to easily define various questions. Good bye messy HTMLs!
        b. Configurable Print Options: On the Manager Main Appraiser page and Employee My Appraisals page, new choices are available (Print or Print All column - to be enabled via Personalization). Selecting the Print option allow Employees or Manager to print specific parts of their "In Progress" or "Completed" Appraisals (which could be PMP Appraisals or Standard Appraisals).
There are other new features in this module as part of this release. Please refer to above MOS note for details.

6. Self-Service:
        a. Two new functions: Quick Change Hours process allows to change the work schedule and assignment category, without needing to go via Change Pay page. Quick Termination Process removes the 'Change Manager' page and automatically assigns the Managers subordinates to the Supervisor of the Manager. The new profile option 'HR: No Supervisor Error or Warning' determines what to do if no one-over-one manager is defined in the system.
        b. Control display of Effective Date, Review and Confirmation Pages: Setting parameters &pQkFn and &pBpRv to Y turns off the Effective Date and Review pages respectively. Setting either of the above to Y will bypass the confirmation page. Note that this requires changes to the Workflow, to set the "LAST_PAGE_IN_FLOW" attribute and "HR_APPROVAL_REQ_FLAG" attribute for a new node.

7. Time and Labor:
        a. Enhanced Timecard Status Dashboard: Allows to search for status of timecards considering supervisor hierarchy, among other things.

The following modules do not have any new or changed features in this release:

• Oracle Approvals Management
• Configuration Workbench
• Core HR
• Labor Distribution

The following modules have new or changed features, but are not covered in this post; more information on these modules should be read from the Oracle note referred above:

• Oracle Advanced Benefits
• Oracle Succession Planning

(For the next release RUP7, see my blog here)

Actionable Organization Charts

Oracle has released an interesting feature to create some traction and make client want to move to Fusion. This feature is labelled as Actionable Organization Chart, and it is a new and intuitive way of looking at reporting hierarchy. Additionally, actions could be taken directly from the reporting hierarchy, and the availability of these actions can be restricted by setting up security.

The only consideration is that this is a feature from Fusion, and therefore requires a WebLogic server to run. Thus, there will need to be a connection between the WebLogic server and Oracle EBS WebServer for this feature to function.

Further documentation can be found below:

1. Using the Organization Chart Feature in Oracle SSHR [ID 1408355.1]
2. Advisor webcast by Oracle at: DOC#1455851.1> Archived 2012 > Go to the one from May 10, 2012.

Questions/ Unknowns at this point are (as received from Kerry):

a.  What technical effort is required
b.  What functional effort is required
c.  What are the sizing issues
d.  What happens to Self Service if the weblogic server goes down.

Data Encryption and Data Masking options in HRMS

This post only redirects to the following note on MOS:

What are the Data Encryption Options for HRMS? [ID 806296.1]

R12.1.5 RUP5 New and Changed features

Patch 13448800 R12.HR_PF.B.delta.5 was released on June 15, 2012. For complete details around the new and changed features in this release, please see the My Oracle Support Note1456556.1 - Oracle Human Resources Management Systems Readme, HRMS Release Update Pack 5 for Release 12.1

A quick roundup of the significant changes is captured below:

1.     Core HR:

a.   Purge Security Profiles: A new concurrent program called “Purge Security Profiles” is now available to evaluate and remove (purge) security profiles that are not in use.

2.     Payroll:

a.   Quick RetroPay: Before this release, there was no way to run RetroPay for a single assignment. This release introduces a new concurrent process – Quick RetroPay, which works exactly like Enhanced RetroPay but for a single assignment.

b.   Element entries using Self-Service: A long over-due feature has been released by Oracle, which allows managers to enter, validate, and approve non-recurring payroll elements prior to processing payroll. Potentially, this could translate into significant savings by removing the need to centrally key in variable pay data (such as overtime pay) and could help in reducing data entry errors.

3.     iRecruitment:

a.   CWK job application: A new enhancement now allows contingent workers (CWKs) to search and apply for jobs using iRecruitment. They can track their job applications, interview schedules, communicate with recruiters, and receive job offers online.

4.     Learning Management:

a.   Learner Group enhancements: Learner Groups can be used to limit access to classes and allow new learners to be automatically enrolled in a mandatory class. From R12.1.5 onwards, administrators can additionally group learners using an eligibility profile, which allows a far superior flexibility in defining Learner Groups (e.g. training access can be limited by location, person type, gender, length of service, grade, etc.)

b.   Learner Notifications: Administrators can now communicate via notifications with learners enrolled for a Class (previously, this was possible through using mail client). Now, when an administrator clicks the Notify icon on the Classes page, a new Notification page appears where Administrators can select the learners to be notified, enter subject, and message. Learners can view such notifications on their learner home page.

5.     Self Service:

a.   Use of Organization Chart: Using this, Managers can view details of subordinates in the hierarchy in the form of panel cards. This view is more intuitive than current text listing of subordinates.

b.   Parallel Approvals: This AME feature allows a transaction to be routed to multiple-approvers and considers the transaction to be approved if any approver from the approval group first approves the transaction.

6.     OTL:

a.   Confirm time entry before submission: With this release, you can configure self-service time entry review page to display a check box to confirm accuracy of time entry before submission.

7.     Performance Management:

a.   Performance Management module enhancements include additional tasks to administer plans more effectively, updated options while republishing PMP and changes to enhance useability of PMP when an employee or manager is not part of the plan population.

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

Head Count Detail Report (XML) : Interpreting the Output

The concurrent report - Head Count Detail Report (XML) - is a quite buggy. It is also difficult to interpret give the lack of documentation. This note attempts to address both.

I used the following parameters to submit this report:

The output that I got was as follows. Issues or inputs are highlighted in yellow.

SJain1. Why does the report show 01-Apr-2012 to 30-Apr-2012, when I have run the report for 2-Apr-2012 to 1-May-2012?

A1. Looks like Custom Time Zone profile setup issue, check running some other XML report.

SJain2. What do Rev/ Non Rev mean and how is it derived?

A2. Work Structures > Job > Description > Extra Information button > Type=Job Category. Enter the Details field for Category Name and select Revenue Generating from the LOV

SJain3. Where does the application derive whether an employee is Permanent/Fixed Term/Contract? Headcount showing under “Contract” does not correspond to the number of active Contingent Workers existing in the system.

A3. It is based on the HR_PERSON_TYPE formula

SJain4. Why “29” days, when I have run the report for 30 days?

A4. Looks like Custom Time Zone profile setup issue, check running some other XML report.

SJain5. What determines whether a termination is voluntary or involuntary?

A5. It is based on the HR_MOVE_TYPE formula and HR_CWK_MOVE_TYPE formulas.

SJain6. Where is this coming from? Is it coming from the parameter “Days Prior to End Date”? If so, this is wrong. Report should display only either “31” or “29” depending on whether the hierarchy version is end dated or not. (See New Hire, Last 29 Days column, where the number “31” does not appear).

A6. Similar to Question 1 and may depend on the date parameters.

SJain7. We do have employees in BAE SYSTEMS Australia Ltd., which is the business group, but also an HR Organization. Why do these employees not show up on the report?

A7. Can you check with some other Business Groups and log a bug if the data is shown.

SJain8. What does it take to round the “%” calculated by the report down to 2 decimals?

A8. This is an Enhancement Request

Report Parameters
Business Group	Australia Business Group
Report Date From	01-APR-2012
Report Date To	30-APR-2012[SJain1]
Report Date	08-MAY-2012
Organization Hierarchy	Australia Ltd
Top Organization	Australia Ltd
Worker Type	B
Roll Up	Y
Budget	HEAD
Include Top Organization	Y
Include Assignment Type	A
Days Prior To End date	31

Organization Hierarchy					Australia Ltd						Version Number						1
Date From					01-APR-2012						Date To						30-APR-2012
Top Organization					Australia Ltd
Division	Rev / Non Rev[SJain2]	Begin ning Head/ FTE Count	Perm-anent	Contract		Fixed Term[SJain3]	NewHire/		Transfer			Offers		Vac-ant FTE	Termination/				End-ing Head/ FTE	Cha-nge	% Cha-nge
															PlacementEnd
							Last 29[SJain4]  Days	Cum-ula-tive	In	Out		Op-en	Acc- ept-ed		Volu-ntary	Invol-untary[SJain5]		Last 31[SJain6]  29 Days
AIR BU	R	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	21	0	1		21	0	0	1	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	22	1	4.76190
Australia Ltd	R	0 [SJain7]	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
COR BU	R	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	54	0	1		54	0	1	1	1		0	0	0	0	0		0	55	1	1.85185[SJain8]
DEL BU	R	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
LIS BU	R	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	11	0	0		11	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	11	0	0
MAR  BU	R	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
	N	17	0	2		17	0	3	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	20	3	17.6470

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