New Start Application for HCM Process and Forms

[Former Member]

SAP has come up with a new Start application for HCM Process and Forms(ASR_PROCESS_START_OVP) in EHP 6 HR Renewal 1.0 SP5(our current version). This application is a very simple application with no step based approach i.e. No more selecting Employee and Process as separate steps(GAF framework is now replaced with OVP framework). This application uses the "Search GUIBB" to search Objects(Employees / Positions / Org Units / Jobs) based on various selection criteria(based on the selected Start Object type/Category). Upon listing the objects, we can trigger forms related to the selected object.

You can select the "Start Object" type using the Category dropdown -

Let's say we select the "Employee" Category, we can search employees based on various selection criteria -

The results are displayed using the LIST GUIBB -

I somehow love the FPM Quickview functionality. This application has Quickviews defined for Personnel Number, Organizational Unit and Position.

You can view the listed employee in a cool "Hierarchical View" which displays the Org Hierarchy of the selected entry-

The columns in this "Hierarchical View" table are controlled using the OADP Column Group definition (which leaves us the scope of hiding or adding more columns as per the custom requirement). Thanks to our Developer(Padma) in exploring this magical linkage.

The processes can be initiated using the menu option on the listed employee -

On selecting one of the processes, the appropriate form is displayed in a separate pop-up.

These processes were defined under this menu, using the launch pad configuration -

So far this application looks absolutely fine from Administrator perspective. But I find few flaws (from my opinion) in this application -

1. Lack of integration with the Org Chart functionality. It would have been "Super cool" if the Org Chart functionality is provided using the “Show Chart" option on the listed results.
2. This application could have been more "Manager" friendly. The current functionality is "Over-Simple" that makes it purely usable only by Administrators. Being a manager of only two employees, I don't want to use the "Search" functionality to initiate process for my reporting employees. Ideally,  I would expect this application to wear a different mask i.e. Manager mode of application where in when a Manager opens this application in this mode, it should somehow magically list his reporting employees or he should be able to visualize his reporting Org Structure using the super cool NAKISA Org Chart functionality and trigger the processes from the Org Chart itself.

But overall I loved the idea of getting rid of "Step-based" approach and simplifying the process initiation in one single screen(Search and initiate the process in the same screen).

What are you thoughts ? Please provide your feedback.