Newsletter in SAP® HR (March 2005)

100 subscribers receive the first English AdManus Newsletter of 2005 (520 already subscribed to the German Newsletter).

1. Tips in mySAP® HR

Multiple lines in SAP Query
As of our experience and the feedback we have got from the person attending the Query session at our conference “SAP HR in Practice“ many users of SAP Query do not know the concept of multiple-lines in SAP Query, but it would have been a solution to some problems. Maybe you now ask yourself what is special of multiple lines. There is almost no Query which has only one line. To comprise multiple lines means, you put the information per column in more than one basic list line. Read more about how the result of a multiple-line basic list looks like, why you need multiple lines in queries and how do you define them.

Selection variables for ABAB reports
Particularly in HR, report variants often use selection variables, which are usually updated via one or several background jobs. Until release 4.6c these variables where saved in table TVARV. However with release 4.7 (R/3 Enterprise), this table is obsolete and replaced by TVARVC. As the old table still exists but doesn’t have any effect, this problem is often noticed only when it is too late and some jobs already have run with wrong selection variables. So, when upgrading from 4.6c to 4.7 or higher, make sure that all your selection variables are updated in the new table TVARVC. Unlike the old table TVARV, the new one is client dependant, making it necessary to update TVARVC in each client. Of course, this applies not only for HR but for report variants in all other modules as well.

BADIs for HR authorization check
There are many possibilities to configure HR authorization, especially when including structural or context sensitive authorization. Nevertheless you will always stumble on specific situations that cannot be handled with standard functionality. The BADIs provided to implement company specific solution are often the last resort in these cases:

• HRPAD00AUTH_CHECK: changes the behaviour of the normal master data authorization check (objects P_ORGIN etc.)
• HRBAS00_STRUAUTH: changes the behaviour of the structural authorization in HR

Consider the use of these BADIs when

1. the rules of your organization can just not be implemented otherwise or
2. the rules of your organization can only be implemented in a very complicated way, forcing up the costs of administrating users and roles to an unacceptable level
3. standard authorization checks badly affect the performance of your system (be aware of the fact, that authorization checks often account for much more than 50% of the “hour glass”)

Some alternatives to the BADIs could be:

• the customer specific authorization objects P_NNNN
• a more sophisticated function module for a structural authorization profile in table T77PR
• the use of authorization object P_ABAP to improve performance (make sure, that you really understand this object before using it!)

2. Events in mySAP® HR

SAP HR 2005 Conference in Orlando, March 2005:
After a successful start of their HR conference in 2004, WIS, the publisher of SAP Insider and HR Expert, will host the SAP HR 2005 in Orlando from March 14 to March 16. More than 90 sessions in all areas of SAP HR provide first-hand information to use in your own projects. You also can use the opportunity to meet an expert from AdManus at the conference. Just send a message to info@admanus.de so that we can arrange an appointment. Have a look at the official website of the event to get more information: http://www.saphr2005.com.

3. What’s new in Human Resources?

Business case for e-learning: Winning the top managers
In his article “Teach the Boss” at “Human Resources”, December 2004 Chris Campbell shows how to win the company’s decision-makers for an e-learning project to contribute to the organisation’s business goals. Click here to read the full article.

4. News from AdManus

Looking back at our conference “SAP HR in Practice“ on February 15 and 16, 2005
The conference in February was a real hit. Everyone present found the conference rewarding: „Praxistage verdienen ihren Namen“ (SAP HR in Practice deserves its name) or „Absolut empfehlenswert für alle SAP HR’ler“ (Absolutely recommendable for all SAP HR colleagues).
You’ll find some photos of the conference here.
We - from AdManus – are happy as well about the extensive exchange of experience and the pleasant atmosphere at the Hilton Hotel of Cologne and at the evening event, too. We are looking forward to the next conference on March 14 and 15, 2006.

Result of the annual customer survey 2004
Achieving top quality in our work is an essential part of the AdManus principles. This concern the quality of the work results as well as the methodology used. It is obligatory to all companies that are part of AdManus to send standardised questionnaires to their customers As soon as the levels of satisfaction shown in the questionnaires fall short of a certain critical value, a process of change is set in motion. The failure to solve these problems leads to exclusion from the network.
Our customers’ overall impression of our service in 2004 was 1.6 (on a level of satisfaction from 1=very high to 5=very low). Despite of the good result we want to do even better next year. Here you’ll find the results per category for every AdManus member. If you took part in the survey (but not anonymously), you can order the detailed evaluation of your company: mailto:info@admanus.de.

5. Book Recommendations

„Business Planning with SAP SEM“ by Roland Fischer (SAP PRESS)
This book represents the first comprehensive and practical reference on how SAP SEM can be used for integrated company planning. The functions of SEM-BPS (Release 3.2) are examined in detail, as well as potential processes and scenarios. Readers learn the business basics of company planning and get exclusive implementation advice. The authors address short-term, middle-term and long-term planning, helping to quickly acquaint you with the project-oriented applications of SAP SEM.
Plus, you’ll benefit from information on applying SEM-BPS in your organization, in-depth advice on the critical correlation of operative and strategic planning, tips to master dynamic simulation with Powersim, and guidance to maximize your interaction with SAP BW. This exceptional reference is the ideal place to get competent and reliable answers to all of your SAP SEM questions.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction and Overview
2. Basics of Enterprise Planning
3. SAP Business Information Warehouse
4. Getting Started with SAP SEM-BPS
5. Project-Oriented Implementation of Integrated Profit and Financial Planning with SAP SEM-BPS

Order this book at SAP-PRESS: http://www.sap-press.com/product.cfm?account=&product=H976

5. German Language Lesson

For 3 years now, we encourage our German subscribers to improve their English with a small lesson containing vocabulary from HR-related topics. Now we give you the chance to learn some German HR-vocabulary as well.
In this issue, the subject of the lesson is "Reporting". You find it via this link: Language Lesson