Selecting a Reporting Tool (SAP Library - Reporting in Human Resources Management)

Selecting a Reporting Tool

Purpose

To enable you to report on HR data, the R/3 System provides you with numerous standard reports and, in addition, reporting tools that give you easy access to existing reports (HIS) or enable you to create your own reports, even if you have no programming skills (InfoSet Query, SAP Query).

HIS

HIS is used to report on HR data along hierarchical structures (organizational structure, business event hierarchy, or customer hierarchies). You can select the structure you want to report on, and the objects you want to display. The structure is displayed in SAP Structural Graphics. In the standard system, a separate window lists all of the reports that exist for the root object. They correspond to the standard reports in Human Resources. Customizing also enables you to add your own reports.

Use HIS to report on HR data along hierarchical structures. HIS is particularly useful if you want to report on data from different HR components because you can start all reports from HIS, which means you do not have to switch from one component to another. Another advantage of HIS is that you are not required to enter data in a selection screen when a report is started because HIS uses the parameters that are most frequently set in practice.

See HIS

InfoSet Query

InfoSet Query is a general SAP reporting tool that is particularly easy to use and intuitive. By selecting selection fields and output fields directly, you can access data stored anywhere within the Human Resources System. You do not require programming skills to create reports using InfoSet Query. Provided that you have the appropriate authorizations, you can save and reuse reports defined in InfoSet Query.

Note

When InfoSet Query is accessed from Human Resources (HR), the Query area and User group parameters already contain values and you can only perform ad hoc reporting. If InfoSet Query is accessed this way, it is called Ad Hoc Query in HR.

Use InfoSet Query if the system does not include a suitable standard report. InfoSet Query is particularly suitable for

Defining specific or seldom required reports on an ad-hoc basis
Defining specific reports that need to be reused

InfoSet Query is also suitable for cross-component reporting within HR because it can access data from Personnel Administration and person-related data from Payroll, Time Management, and Personnel Planning, for example. Furthermore, you can use InfoSet Query to report on data for objects in Personnel Planning.

See InfoSet Query and HR in InfoSet Query.

SAP Query

SAP Query is a cross-application reporting tool in the R/3 System. Just like InfoSet Query, it is used to create reports that are not included in the standard system. You do not require programming skills to work with SAP Query.

In the context of HR reporting, SAP Query has the following functions:

It provides additional options for reporting on data and formatting output. You can

Use control levels. Use this output option if you want to put different infotype fields into groups; for example, all of the addresses pertaining to one person. This is particularly relevant to infotypes with subtypes and/or time constraint 3. See Output Options for Control Levels

Define one basic list, up to nine statistics, and up to nine ranked lists per report (query). This enables you to prepare data for the output list in a number of different ways.

Format output lists using colors.

Define and use local fields.

It is used to manage the user groups and InfoSets that are required for InfoSet Query, assuming you do not use the InfoSets included in the standard system.

Use SAP Query if you cannot use InfoSet Query to meet your requirements, or to refine queries from InfoSet Query. You could, for example, enhance a query by outputting control levels.

See SAP Query.

Business Information Warehouse

The Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW) is an independent Data Warehouse solution that can be used to retrieve data from SAP systems and the vast majority of external systems. BW provides you with specialized reporting technology and HR Business Content, which means it contains business content, reports, and key figures from all areas of Human Resources.

An important BW focus is on the retrieval of key figures and time series comparisons (for example, headcount with regard to organizational characteristics during the past three years). Operational data from various areas within an enterprise is prepared using predefined standard queries and report templates. You can break comparative key figures down to individual employees. BW also enables you to create different views of queries by exchanging free characteristics.

BW can provide data in an intranet/Internet environment, where it can be viewed at any time by persons with the appropriate authorizations. It supplies you with data for decision-making and information purposes. Standard calculation of key figures also facilitates benchmarking.

If you require further information on BW Queries for Human Resources Management, refer to the documentation on the Business Information Warehouse and see the section on queries with HR Business Content.

Process Flow

When deciding which tool to use, refer to the following schema.

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text

You’re still unsure? See Overview: HR Reporting, which contains a table summarizing the purposes, advantages, and limitations of standard reports and reporting tools in HR.