SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

Advanced  Business  Application Programming. Fourth generation programming language developed by SAP that is utilized to develop application programs

An ABAP report is an ABAP program which reads and analyzes data in database tables without modifying the database. When you execute an ABAP report, the resulting output list is either displayed on the screen or sent to a printer. SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

Unique organisation unit descriptor, two letters and six numbers.

Whenever an employee is not at work on a working day e.g. sickness, leave

Cost code or cost center to which expenditure is place against.

The code or short symbol for the action. Earlier versions of SAP called this an event type

Running an action (event) means processing a sequence of infotypes for a particular employee. All actions should be recorded on IT0000

A group of tasks. The results of an activity can produce certain deliverable and can be accomplished by one or more project team members. Several activities comprise a work package

Application Link Enabling provides integration for separate R/3 systems, allowing full interaction. This makes it possible for distributed enterprise applications to work together as if they were one-system.

This is usually the addresses associated with an employee (Home address/next of kin address/etc.). There is a feature called ADDRS which controls the sequence in which the address sub-types are read.

The application server is used to run the business application programs. The application modules are loaded from the data base server to the application server as required.

Element of the security system. An authorization specifies one or more permissible values for each of the authorization fields that are listed in an authorization object. The values in an authorization are used in authorization texts to determine whether a user’s action in the system is allowed.

Account Number, Sort Code, Bank Address, etc.

Interface that facilitates the transfer of large amounts of data to an SAP system. You can use batch input to transfer both old data and external data to the SAP System. It ensures application data integrity for background interfaces.

The main deliverable of the Business Blueprint phase. The blueprint document provides written documentation of the results of the requirements gathering sessions. The purpose of this document is to verify that a proper understanding of requirements has been communicated. The blueprint also finalizes the detailed scope of the project.

Computer Aided Test Tool is a SAP tool for grouping and automating repetitive business transactions in test runs and text modules. This is not to be confused with CATS – Computer Assisted Time Sheets.

The ability of a user to change data.

The head of an organisation unit.

In commercial, organizational, and technical terms, a self-contained unit in an R/3 system with separate master records and its own set of tables.

Functionality in the R/3 system where you can make a copy of a client within one SAP system or to another SAP system. System settings determine what will be copied: Customizing data, business application data and/or user master records.

Specific only to one client. Changes only take place in the current client – usually concerns configuration tables which are client dependent. If the tables are client independent, SAP will warn you.

Specific to more than one client. Changes affect all clients on the instance.

Located on the left-hand side of the standard tool bar, it allows you to enter a transaction code, without having to go through the menu path.

The smallest organizational unit for which a complete self-contained set of accounts can be drawn up for purposes of external reporting.

E.g.. Permanent/temporary

The hours that an employee is contracted to work.

The preferred Accelerated SAP term for the process of establishing interfaces or methods to facilitate the transfer of large amounts of data to an SAP system (as opposed to the term “data transfer”).

The user has the ability to replicate data that currently exists.

It contains all the objects that a developer has changed or created. It also controls customizing that has been maintained

The ability for a user to create new data for an employee.

Modifications made to the standard SAP system to meed to the needs of your organisation.

The Computer Center Management System allows you to monitor, control and configure your R/3 system. This toolset lets you analyze and distribute client workloads and report on resource consumption for system components.

Hours worked each day.

Means of data storage. A database contains information belonging to a specific area. The data is stored with reference to its interdependency.

Date reminders within the system, a report is normally automatically generated. This is now called Monitoring of Tasks within SAP.

The end date for information, this then become part of a record.

Access to view a an infotype/subtype.

A recent technique to input data safely. It ensures application data integrity for background interfaces. See also batch input.

It is a service that entails having your R/3 installation regularly inspected by SAP employees, in other to ensure high system availability and high data throughput at all time.

The term employee group is an organisational unit for which personnel provisions can be specified. An employee group is sub-divided into employee sub-groups.

The Personnel Employee Number is the key to the employee record and as such must be unique within the system. The number can be assigned automatically by the system or manually by the user. The number is numeric and is to a maximum of 8 digits. “

Non-SAP data. Data that comes from an external company.

Screen in which multiple entry of certain data can be entered.

File Transfer Protocol is a common way of transferring files electronically.

A Graphical User Interface used by SAP environment. This is the software that is loaded onto your PC which will allow you to access SAP.

The Implementation Management Guide is a hierarchical structure that reflects the R/3 component hierarchy and contains all configuration activities.

Moving from an existing system and way of doing business to using R/3 to run the entire, or a part of, the business.

An infotype is a collection of like information relating to an employee’s master data e.g. bank details, pay details. Infotypes represent a set of data records relating to a similar area of master data

It means application server with 1 or more clients on the server. Any client independent changes will be made across all clients on an instance.

The result of bringing together different areas within SAP or different systems and getting them to work together in unison – without any problems – Ha Ha!!!

Software programs connecting two components in a system, ensuring a seamless transfer of data

Equipment that is given to an employee in order to carry out the duties of the their post, e.g.. Laptop/Mobile Phone/Keys.

An Internet Transaction Server links the R/3 application server with one or more Web servers, thus enabling the R/3 to communicate with the Internet. Can be used for Employee Self Service (ESS). The ITS has been replaced in newer SAP versions by the Web Application Server (WAS)

The ability of a user to change data.

Information relating to employees held on SAP. This covers all the data entered on the different infotypes of PA and OM in HR.

A matchcode allows you to locate the key of a particular database record (e.g. the account number) by entering data contained in the record. The system then displays a list of records matching the specifications.

A range of numbers that are laid down per file for the assignment of document numbers. It can be internal (carried out automatically by the system) or external (carried out manually by the user).

SAP’s Online Service System (OSS) offers fast and effective help for R/3 System problems. It is also the basic element of communications between customers, partners, and SAP.

The ability to view the entire history, related to an infotype or subtype. Can be accessed by clicking on the “mountain and sun” icon at the top of the screen.

A Payroll Accounting Area represents a Payroll within the structure. A Payroll is defined by the Pay Frequency, Pay Date and the Inland Revenue Permit Number, all of which must be unique. See Appendix

Period Parameters define the working period and pay date for the pay frequency and are directly linked to a Payroll Accounting Area but may be used across Payroll Accounting Areas if required

A Personnel Area is always linked directly to a Company Code. Personnel Areas usually represent a physical location where employees are based.

A Personnel Sub Area is always linked directly to a Personnel Area. Personnel Sub Areas usually represent a part of a location where employees are based. SAP terminology Faq

The main details of a position (post).

The system used for day-to-day business operations.

Those IMG tasks which relate to a specific group of functions and/or processes which are being implemented with a common go-live date. A Project IMG may be the Enterprise IMG or a subset of it

Qualifications gained from educational institutions, courses, societies etc

These wage types are assigned values automatically by the system, whilst programs are being run. Secondary wage types can be recognised in the results table as /xxxx.

Large computer housing different clients of SAP. At OCC there are three: Development, UAT and Production servers

A screen that forms part of a/an procedure/action, access usually gain through an infotype

is the set of representative and meaningful input data that is used to exercise the test case and evaluate the system compliance to the defined set of criteria and expected results. SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

Shortcut to a particular menu path which is entered in the command field.

Any data that user have to input to complete a transaction.

It is a request to transport objects from the software development environment, identified as the source system, to the specified target system. Transports are carried out via transport requests. SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

e.g. Organisation Unit/Position/etc. Validity date/s The date that a piece of information becomes active or is delimited (no longer applies, e.g. the start and end date of an honoraria. SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

A wagetype allows you to assign payments and deductions and control payroll programs. Wagetypes are divided into primary and secondary wagetypes. Primary wagetypes are wagetypes that the user can assign data to, during entry. Secondary wagetypes are assigned values automatically by the system, whilst programs are being run.SAP HCM Terminology FAQ

Number of days worked in a week.

Hours worked each week.

Work plan for one or more employees, usually applies to a group of staff. SAP HCM Terminology FAQ hcm terminology