Human Resources Glossary

ABAP/4: Advanced Business Application programming. SAPs fourth generation programming language
to develop online applications and evaluate databases.
Absence Quota: An employees entitlement to certain absence. The quota has a limited validity period, and
is reduced by each recorded absence.
Administrative Personnel Structure: Allows for the ability to group employees by their relationship
within the company, their status, and their payroll processing. onsists of three indicators! employee group,
employee subgroup and payroll accounting area.
Applicant Group: "s used in recruitment to classify applicants according to the type of employment
contract for which they are applying #e.g. permanent, temporary, freelance, etc.$.
Applicant Range% "s used in recruitment to classify applicants according to their hierarchical or functional
criteria. #&unctional! administration, factory, engineering.
'ierarchical! e(ecutives, line management, staff.$
Attendee Type: A grouping together of attendees with the same characteristics. These attendees can be
either individual attendees or group attendees #for e(ample, customer, or person$.
Attributes: "n P), they are the inherent characteristics that describe an ob*ect. "nfotypes are used to hold
this information.
Authoriation: The access privileges for performing an action in the +,- system based on a set of
authori.ed values for each of the fields in an authori.ation ob*ect.
Authoriation ob!ect: An element of the authori.ation system which groups up to ten authori.ation fields
for combined authori.ation chec/ing. To pass an authori.ation test for an ob*ect, the user must satisfy the
authori.ation chec/ for each field in the ob*ect. The authori.ation ob*ects are listed in the table T0B1.
Balance: 2sed to store a goal amount for a deduction wage type. This is entered in infotype 3345
#Additional Payments$.
Bene"it Plan: The benefit plan is the core of benefit administration module6 it encompasses a single benefit
offered by the employer.
Business #avigator: The +,- business navigator is the graphical browser and navigation tool that is used
to display the +,- +eference 7odel. 8ith this tool you can view graphical process chains, directly access
the applications and trigger transactions, call +,- online documentation, and loo/ at other repository
information such as business ob*ects and input,output.
$lient: legally and organi.ationally independent unit on the highest level of the SAP +,- system #do not
ma/e any changes to clients 333 or 334$
$luster: lusters are ways of organi.ing data in a database that consists of a number of tables. Types of
clusters6 B9, +:.
$ommand %ield: ;ocated on every SAP screen ne(t to the <nter icon #green chec/ mar/$. 2sed to type in
direct commands that will allow the user to initiate shortcuts. =alid commands are%
Input Results
,n to end the current transaction
," to end the current session
,o to create a new session
,nend to log off from the system
,n((( to *ump to a new transaction
,o((( to create a new session and *ump to a new transaction #(((( > transaction code$
$ompany $ode: A legally independent unit within a client and is the smallest organi.ational unit for which
complete self!contained set of boo/s can be maintained for e(ternal reporting #i.e., balance sheet and profit
and loss statement$.
$ompany Structure: onsists of following% lient, ompany ode, Personnel area, Personnel subarea,
and organi.ational /ey.
$onstraint: A constraint describes dependencies between one or more ob*ects and their characteristics in
variant configuration.
$ost $enter: An organi.ational unit within a controlling area that represents a separate location of cost
incurred. ost centers #departments$ can be set up based on functional requirements, allocation criteria,
activities or services provided, location or area responsibility #ob*ect type ?@A$.
$ountry $ode: 0ne of the geographical elements within the )ifferential +eference ode #)+$. The
)+ +egion field may be used to create pricing conditions.
$umulations: ?Buc/ets of wage types stored on technical wage types ,434 through ,4BC. <(amples include
,434 gross wages, ,439 ++SP wages and ,443 employee deductions.
&ata &ictionary: entral catalog that contains the descriptions of an organi.ations data and provides
information about the relationship between the data and its use in programs and screens.
&ate 'odi"ier: 2sed if you want to have different pay dates with same period parameter #i.e., two bi!
wee/ly payrolls by different pay dates.$
&ialog (age Types: 8age types that can be entered on infotypes or calculated in payroll.
&aily (or) Schedule: +epresents a timetable for wor/ing on a specific day. The daily wor/ schedule and
wor/ brea/ schedule describes the e(act wor/ing times for a particular day. 0ne daily wor/ schedule can
represent a number of different time models.
&aily (or) Schedule *ariant: A daily wor/ schedule that varies slightly from one that is normally valid.
&or e(ample, some companies have a policy that employees wor/ a half day proceeding a holiday. This half
wor/ing day is an e(ception to normal schedule and can be defined as a variant.

&etail 'aintenance +see also Simple 'aintenance,: 0ne of the three methods you can use to create and
maintain organi.ational plans in the 0rgani.ation and Planning module of P). 8ith )etail 7aintenance
you wor/ with ob*ects one!at!a!time, at a detailed level. omplete P) functionality is available, which
means you can wor/ with all types of infotypes and record statuses, etc.
&ialog +Program,: ABAP,D program that allows the user to perform a certain tas/ #transaction$. A dialog
program consists of screens, a module pool #i.e., type ?7A ABAP,D program$ and a transaction code #call$.
"n general, there is also a user interface that allows the user easy access to a number of functions. #"n
contrast to reports, a dialog program is normally started with a transaction code or is often incorporated into
an area menu.$
&ynamic Action: ombines related infotypes into groups. )epending on the data entered, the system will
generate subsequent infotypes.
-arliest Recalculation &ate: This is set for each employee and also at the payroll control level. The higher
of the two dates is used.
-mployee Group: The employee group allows for the division of employees into groups that define their
relationship within the company. "n personnel administration, the main employee groups are active wor/
force, temporary employees, and retirees
-mployee Subgroup: <mployee subgroups are subdivisions of the employee group, which allow for
further definitions of the employee according to their status. Such as, within the active wor/ force, a
distinction can be made between union , non!union, salaried, hourly, trainees and e(ecutives.
-mployee Subgroup Grouping "or $ollective Agreement Provisions +$AP,: Allows selective
assignment to the various pay scale groups. Eou can combine employee group,subgroups under this
grouping customi.ing in the following categories%
#4$ "ndustrial wor/ers ,hourly wage6
#9$ "ndustrial wor/ers ,monthly wage6
#-$ Salaried employees6
#D$ Fon!pay scale employee.
8ithin these groupings, pay scale groups and levels can be defined per scale type and pay scale area. an
be used for indirect valuation on an hourly or monthly basis.
-mployee Subgroup Grouping "or Personnel $alculation Rule +P$R,: Allows selective assignments to
various pay scale groups. Eou can combine employee groups,subgroups under this grouping using
customi.ing in the following categories%
4. 'ourly 8age <arners.
9. 7onthly 8age <arners.
-. Salaried <mployees
The meaning of these groups are fi(ed and may not be changed. The P+ is required for Payroll
Accounting and is used for indirect valuation of wage types and infotype 333G, Basic pay.
-mployee Subgroup Grouping "or Primary (age Type: ombines employee subgroups for eligibility
for Primary wage type usage. Allows you to restrict specific wage types to certain employees group and
subgroup.
-nterprise .'G: The <nterprise "7H is the top!level filter for the SAP +eference "7H. "t is generated by
selecting the business application components and countries to be implemented #all pro*ects$.
-valuation $lass: Similar to a processing class. <valuation classes are used for post payroll processing.
#i.e., assigning a H,; account number to a wage type$
%actoring: Proration process for salaries.
%eatures: &eatures are decision trees that perform operation on e(isting fields. &eatures can be used to set
default values. Some e(amples of features are% AB@+S! default values for payroll area6 P"F'! default for
Administrator groups on infotype 3334.
%unction: 2sed to process, collect and display data in schemas.
/uman Resource 'aster &ata: <mployee!related data, which remain relatively constant during the
course of time. <(ample includes personnel number, name, address, ban/ data and social insurance number.
/iring: A personnel action in which all the data relevant to the entry of a new employee is recorded, such
as name, address, personnel number, activity, cost center etc.
.'G: "mplementation Huide. ;ist of all the actions required for the SAP system and helps control and
document the process. The "7H is used to do the actual parameter settings. "t provides a H2"!
supported, menu!led approach, and offers recommendations and e(planations for what the system
e(pects at each stage. )efault settings are provided to facilitate configuration.
.n"otype: A system information unit within the '+ module. "nfotypes represent a group of related data
fields, provide information structure, facilitate data entry, and allow time!dependent storage of data. &or
e(ample, information on a persons city of residence, street and house number combines to form the
employees address, and is therefore stored #along with other data fields$ in the infotype ?Address.A
.n"otype Groups: An infotype group is a set of infotypes processed for a particular personnel action. An
infotype group can be dependent on a user group so that only certain infotypes are processed for a
particular group of users.
.n"ormation Subtype: "n information type #infotype$ can be divided into subtypes. &oe e(ample, family
data can be bro/en down further to represent spouse and children. <ach subdivision group is /nown as a
subtype.
0obs: 1obs are general classification of positions that e(ist within a company.
'odi"iers: 2sed in rule @70) to set value ranges for tables. The following tables use modifiers%
70)"&4 > T543S 8age Types constant
70)"&9 > T5431 onstant =aluation
70)"&- > T3-3 &i(ed Accounts
70)"&A > T55D Absence =aluation
70)"&B > T54)4 ;imits for )eductions
70)"& > =aluation Basis for month!end accrual
70)"&) > 8age Type Processing with regard to month!end accrual
70)"&8 > T543S 8age Type Heneration
The modifiers allow you to set a specific range of table entries for different groups of employees.
1peration: 0perations are building bloc/s for rules. They are used to process wage types.
1rganiational Structure: 0rgani.ational Structures reflect organi.ational hierarchies and
interrelationships for employees. They are composed of the following substructures% company structure,
personnel structure, pay scale structure, wage type structure.
1rganiational 2nit: 0rgani.ational 2nits define the different employee groups #business areas$ within a
company #e.g. departments$. 7ust be lin/ed to one another to produce a hierarchical structure for the
company.
PA +Personnel Administration and Payroll Accounting,: The SAP 'uman +esources 7anagement
system is divided into two main areas of configuration% PA and P). "n PA, the organi.ational hierarchies
and their control functions are defined using a system of control tables #which means that company
structure and personnel structures can be set up independently of one another$. The subsets of the
implementation guide for PA consists of%
Personnel Administration6
Benefits6
+ecruitment6
Time 7anagement6
Payroll.
Pay .ncrease +Simple versus -3tended,:
Simple% 2ses report +P254333 to increase wage types in customi.ing.
<(tended% an define variant to use for increasing standard pay which add or delete wage types or replace
e(isting ones. The variants include%
A I increase a wage type to an absolute amount6
I delimit an e(isting wage type6
) I increase by a difference6
< I valuate according to another pay scale group6
H I increase total pay by an absolute amount6
+ I replace one wage type by another6
T I add a new wage type.
Pay Scale Area: Heographical area in which a pay scale or a collective agreement is valid. Two!digit code,
setup in customi.ing and stored in PA country grouping. 2sed as default values for pay types and groups
lined to the personnel subarea #see infotype 333G$. 8ithin a pay scale area, pay scale groups and levels can
be defined per pay scale type and indicator.
Pay Scale Group: Provides a classification criteria for wor/ and indirect valuations. )efined per PA
country grouping, pay scale type, pay scale area and employee subgroup grouping for the collective
agreement provision. The most important control features of pay scale groups and levels is chec/ing the
validity of entries in infotype Basic Pay #333G$ and infotype 8age 7aintenance #3359$ and assigning
payments for indirect valuation of wage types.
Pay Scale Types: Area in which pay scale or collective agreement is valid. This pay scale or agreement
may be determined at company or trade union level. Two!digit code maintained in customi.ing and stored
by PA country grouping. Pay scale groups and levels can be defined within a pay scale type per pay scale
area and employee subgroup grouping for collective agreement provision.
Payroll Accounting Area +a4)4a4 Payroll Area,: The payroll area is a grouping for payroll runs. "t is
assigned to employees using feature AB@+S, which is based on the organi.ational assignment #infotype
3334$. The payroll area identifies which payroll run #wee/ly, bi!wee/ly, monthly, etc.$ will process an
employee.
Payroll &river: The payroll program +PA;@3 is used to perform complete payroll runs on a period!by
period basis and store results.
Payroll Status: "nfotype 333-. "t is used to /eep trac/ of last payroll run for an employee6 retroactive
activity and error indication.
P& +Personnel Planning and &evelopment,: The SAP 'uman +esources 7anagement system is divided
into two main areas for configuration% PA and P). "n P) an organi.ational plan is developed to depict a
companys structure. "t will include information about the individual positions, the reporting structure #or
chain of command$ and positions. Position information will include the types of *ob performed, the wor/
centers, #physical locations$ where *obs and positions are carried out and the different types of tas/s
performed. The subsets of the implementation guide for P) consists of%
Personnel planning and development global settings6
0rgani.ational plan6
Seminar and convention management6
Personnel development6
Shift planning6
+oom reservation planning.
Period Parameter: )etermines payroll area frequency.
Personnel Actions: The personnel action function groups together all infotypes necessary to input a
particular personnel procedure, such as hiring a new employee. <ach action includes the infotypes for
which it is essential that you enter data, and allows you to process them sequentially. This ensures that all
data relevant to particular personnel procedure is recorded in the system.
Personnel Area: Personnel areas are used solely in Personnel Administration and are defined with a client.
<ach personnel area must be assigned to a company code. The personnel area allows you to generate
default values for data entry, for e(ample, for the payroll accounting area. The personnel area is a selection
criterion for reporting. Personnel areas form a unit in authori.ation chec/s.
Personnel Subarea: Personnel Subareas are the last element in the company structure. +espective country!
specific control features are stored here Specified grouping for Time management6 which allows, for
e(ample, wor/ schedules as well as substitution, absence and leave types to be setup on a personnel subarea
specific basis. )efault values are generated for pay scale types and area for an employees basic pay. A
holiday calendar is specified. Personnel subarea!specific wage types per personnel area are defined.
Personnel %ile: The personnel file gives user the ability to access all infotypes for a particular personnel
number. The infotypes are displayed in infotype sequence.
Position: 1obs are further described by position. Positions are specific roles performed by individual in the
company.
Processing $lass: Processing lasses are stored in the table T5498 and is used in rules to determine
which version of the rule should be selected for a particular wage type.
Rte5 #um5 Amt: The elements of a wage type.
Rule: ontrols how wage types are processed during payroll processing. +ules consists of operations.
Schema: Series of sequential processing steps for payroll and time evaluation. 7ain schemas include6
6777 anadian accounting payroll schema for +PA;@36
T'77 7ain schema for Time 7anagement6
T'78 Time evaluation schema for e(ceptions to the wor/ schedule6
T'74 Time evaluation schema without cloc/ time.
Split .ndicator: )erived from 8PBP. Splits will ensure accuracy during payroll processing. Splits occur
when there is a change in one or more of the infotype in the 8PBP table.
Subschema: ontains processing steps needed by payroll. Subschemas are called from main schema using
function ?copyA.
Symbolic Account: "nterface between a wage type and general ledger account number. Symbolic accounts
are assigned to wage type in T5498.
Technical (age Types: 8age types that are calculated or used by payroll. Technical wage types start with
a ?,A.
Time $onstraints: Time constraints are configured for each infotype. They serve as guidelines for when
and how many records of an infotype you can maintain. lass 4information must e(ist, and only once for
the life span of the ob*ect6 lass 9 I information is optional, but it can e(ist only once in any time period
#non!continuous or continuous$6 lass I- information is optional and many record can e(ist during any
time period.
Time Types: 2sed in time evaluation to store balances formed from employee attendance and absence
times.
Time (age Type: Time 8age Types are the wage types that need to be evaluated because they carry only a
unit #i.e. hours, days, etc.$.
Total: Stores the total amount of a deduction with a balance. The total amount is calculated in payroll.
2ser Group: A user group defines a set of employee. 2ser group are used when customi.ing the SAP '+
system. The system can be customi.ed so that the user group can determine the screen, infotypes and fields
accessible.
*alidity &ates: The validity period of an ob*ect and any infotype must be defined. <ach infotype uses
beginning and end dates to identify the infotypes validity period.
*aluation Basis: Technical wage types ,33 #i.e. ,334$. The total amount is calculated in payroll.
*aluation $lass Rule: Assigned to absence to determine how they will be processed in payroll.
(age Type: 8age type refers to a four digit identifier for values #amount, number or amount per unit$
which are necessary for calculating an employees wage,salary. 8age type represent deduction, earning or
ta( codes.
(age Type $lasses: 8age type classes are used for deduction limit processing.
(PBP: Table that contains data from infotypes6
3333 I Actions6
3334 I 0rgani.ational Assignment6
333J I 8or/ Schedule6
333G I Basic Pay6
339J I ost distribution.