Understanding the terminology of Employee Central is key to effectively managing the system. The use of Foundation Objects, Associations, and Generic Objects allows organizations to mirror their real-world structures, automate workflows, and extend functionality. By leveraging tools like Propagation and the Metadata Framework, businesses can ensure their HR operations are streamlined, consistent, and aligned with strategic goals.
Terminology of Employee Central
The table below provides a detailed explanation of key terms used in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (EC), their descriptions, and their equivalents in SAP ERP HCM. Additionally, this guide offers insights into how these terms relate to the configuration and operation of Employee Central.
| Employee Central Term | Description | SAP ERP HCM Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Objects | Core objects that hold the primary organizational and job-related data used in employee records. Examples include Company, Job Classification, Pay Grade, and Legal Entity. These objects are crucial for maintaining consistency and hierarchy across the system. | Object Type / Master Data / Transparent Table |
| Associations | Defines the relationships between Foundation Objects. For instance, a Division might belong to a specific Business Unit, or a Job Classification might relate to a Pay Grade. Associations help create dependencies that reflect organizational structure. | Relationship |
| Generic Objects | Custom objects created using the Metadata Framework (MDF). These objects allow businesses to add flexibility by creating unique data fields or entities not covered by standard Foundation Objects. | Object Type |
| Organization Structure | The overall structure of an organization, which includes its legal entities, business units, divisions, departments, and locations. This structure represents the hierarchy and relationships within the enterprise. | Organization Structure |
| Propagation | The process of auto-populating field values in an employee’s Employment Information section, based on associated Foundation Objects. For example, selecting a Location might automatically populate the associated Legal Entity and Business Unit fields. | Default Values set by Features in PE03 |
In-Depth Explanation of Employee Central Terms
1. Foundation Objects
Foundation Objects form the backbone of Employee Central. These pre-defined objects hold essential data that is reused across different modules and employee records. For example:
- Company: Represents legal entities within the organization.
- Job Classification: Defines the type of job roles available.
- Pay Grade: Specifies salary ranges associated with different jobs.
Foundation Objects ensure that employee data aligns with the organization’s structural and operational requirements.
2. Associations
Associations define the dependencies and relationships between Foundation Objects. These are particularly useful for creating hierarchies and ensuring that data flows correctly across objects. For example:
- A Business Unit might have multiple Divisions associated with it.
- A Division might be further linked to multiple Departments.
By setting up associations, you can enforce logical dependencies, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
3. Generic Objects
Generic Objects are created using the Metadata Framework (MDF). These objects provide flexibility for businesses to extend system functionality. Unlike Foundation Objects, which are predefined, Generic Objects can be customized. Examples of Generic Objects include:
- Custom fields for storing unique organizational data.
- Custom workflows for approval processes.
Generic Objects are particularly useful for businesses with unique requirements that go beyond the standard configuration.
4. Organization Structure
The Organization Structure represents the hierarchy of entities within an enterprise. This structure typically includes:
- Legal Entities: Separate companies within a group.
- Business Units: Operational segments focused on specific goals.
- Divisions: Subsections of Business Units.
- Departments: Functional teams within Divisions.
- Locations: Physical offices or worksites.
The Organization Structure is essential for defining reporting lines, workflows, and other HR processes.
5. Propagation
Propagation simplifies data entry and ensures consistency by automatically filling fields based on Foundation Object data. For instance:
- When a user selects a Location, associated fields like Legal Entity and Business Unit are automatically populated.
- This reduces manual errors and ensures that all related data remains synchronized.
Propagation rules are defined during configuration and help streamline workflows.
Key Differences Between Employee Central and SAP ERP HCM
While Employee Central uses terms like Foundation Objects and Generic Objects, SAP ERP HCM relies on master data and transparent tables. The table below highlights these differences:
| Aspect | Employee Central (EC) | SAP ERP HCM |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Objects | Predefined objects for organizational data | Master data stored in transparent tables |
| Generic Objects | Customizable using Metadata Framework | Requires custom development |
| Propagation | Auto-population of fields via rules | Default values via PE03 features |
| User Interface | Modern, cloud-based, intuitive | Traditional, on-premise, technical |