Your Hire to Retire - Position Management Data Template

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central
Your Hire to Retire - Position Management Data Template

Your Hire to Retire - Position Management Data Template

This template provides a comprehensive guide for collecting the necessary data to analyze your Hire to Retire - Position Management process. It outlines essential attributes to collect, key activities to track, and practical guidance on data extraction. Use this resource to ensure you gather all the relevant information for a successful process mining initiative.
  • Recommended attributes to collect
  • Key activities to track
  • Extraction guidance for SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central
New to event logs? Learn how to create a process mining event log.

Hire to Retire - Position Management Attributes

These are the recommended data fields to include in your event log for comprehensive Hire to Retire - Position Management analysis.
5 Required 5 Recommended 10 Optional
Name Description
Activity Name
ActivityName
The name of the business event that occurred at a specific point in time for a position.
Description

This attribute describes a specific step or milestone in the position management lifecycle, such as 'Position Request Initiated', 'Position Created in HR System', or 'Position Deactivated'. Each activity represents a distinct event in the process.

Analyzing the sequence and frequency of activities is the core of process mining. It allows for the visualization of the process map, identification of common and alternative process flows (variants), and pinpoints where delays or rework occur between steps. This is fundamental to understanding how the process actually operates.

Why it matters

It defines the steps in the process, allowing for the visualization of the process map and analysis of workflow, bottlenecks, and deviations.

Where to get

This is typically derived from event logs, status change records, or audit trails within the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central system. It may require mapping from technical event codes or status transitions to user-friendly names.

Examples
Position Request InitiatedPosition Created in HR SystemPosition Attributes ModifiedPosition Deactivated
Event Time
EventTime
The timestamp indicating when a specific activity occurred.
Description

Event Time records the exact date and time that an activity was executed or logged in the system. It provides the chronological order of events for each position's lifecycle.

This timestamp is critical for all time-based analysis in process mining. It is used to calculate cycle times between activities, measure the duration of the entire process, identify bottlenecks by analyzing the time spent between steps, and trend performance over time. Without accurate timestamps, process analysis is not possible.

Why it matters

This attribute provides the chronological sequence of events, which is essential for calculating cycle times, discovering bottlenecks, and understanding process performance.

Where to get

This corresponds to the creation date or last modified date field associated with events or status changes in the position management audit logs or transaction records in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
2023-04-15T09:00:00Z2023-04-15T14:30:15Z2023-05-01T11:20:00Z
Position ID
PositionId
The unique identifier for an organizational position, serving as the primary case identifier for the position management process.
Description

The Position ID links all activities and data points related to a single organizational position. It allows for the end-to-end tracking of a position's entire lifecycle, from its initial request and creation to any modifications, reclassifications, and its eventual deactivation or closure.

In process mining, each unique Position ID represents a single case. Analyzing processes through this identifier helps to understand the full journey of a position, measure total lifecycle times, and identify patterns or bottlenecks that affect positions from start to finish. It is the fundamental attribute for constructing the process map and calculating case-level KPIs.

Why it matters

This is the essential case identifier that connects all related events, making it possible to trace the complete lifecycle of a position and analyze its process flow.

Where to get

This identifier is a core element of the Position Management module in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, typically found in the Position object.

Examples
POS-1002345POS-1002346POS-2039871
Last Data Update
LastDataUpdateTime
The timestamp when the data was last refreshed or extracted from the source system.
Description

This attribute indicates the last time the data for the process was updated in the process mining tool. It reflects the freshness of the data being analyzed.

This is important for users to understand how current the analysis is and to manage expectations about the data's timeliness. It is a key piece of metadata for any dashboard or report.

Why it matters

It informs users about the freshness of the data, which is critical for ensuring that analyses and decisions are based on up-to-date information.

Where to get

This timestamp is generated by the data extraction and transformation pipeline at the time of execution.

Examples
2023-10-27T08:00:00Z
Source System
SourceSystemId
The system from which the data was extracted.
Description

This attribute identifies the source system where the event data originated. For this process, it will consistently be SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.

While it may seem redundant in a single-source model, it is a crucial field for data governance and maintaining context, especially in environments where data might be merged from multiple systems. It ensures clarity on data provenance.

Why it matters

It provides clear data provenance, which is essential for data governance, troubleshooting, and in scenarios involving multiple data sources.

Where to get

This is typically a static value added during the data transformation process to label the origin of the dataset.

Examples
SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central
Approver ID
ApproverId
The identifier of the manager or approver involved in an approval activity.
Description

This attribute identifies the specific user who performed an approval step, such as 'Position Request Approved by Manager' or 'Position Request Approved by HR'. It is distinct from the general User ID as it specifically relates to approval tasks.

Analyzing approval times by specific approvers can help identify individuals who may be bottlenecks in the process or who may approve things exceptionally quickly, indicating a best practice. It provides a more granular level of detail for analyzing the 'Departmental Approval Bottleneck' dashboard.

Why it matters

It allows for granular analysis of approval steps, helping to identify bottlenecks or high performers at the individual approver level.

Where to get

This is stored in the workflow or approval log data in SAP SuccessFactors, associated with the position request transaction.

Examples
m.joness.patele.williams
Department
DepartmentName
The name of the department to which the position belongs.
Description

This attribute specifies the organizational department associated with the position, such as 'Finance', 'Sales', or 'Information Technology'.

Department is a key dimension for comparative analysis. It allows you to benchmark process performance across different parts of the organization, for instance, by comparing position approval times between departments. This is essential for the 'Departmental Approval Bottleneck' dashboard and helps identify localized inefficiencies or best practices.

Why it matters

This enables performance comparison and bottleneck analysis across different business departments, helping to pinpoint area-specific issues.

Where to get

This is a standard attribute of the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.

Examples
FinanceSales - North AmericaResearch & Development
Event End Time
EventEndTime
The timestamp indicating when a specific activity was completed.
Description

The Event End Time marks the completion of an activity. In many systems, an activity is recorded as a single point in time, in which case the End Time would be the same as the Start Time. However, for activities with a measurable duration, like an approval step that is actively being worked on, this field captures the completion moment.

This attribute is essential for calculating the processing time of individual activities. It helps differentiate between waiting time (the gap between activities) and processing time (the duration of the activity itself), providing a more detailed view of process efficiency.

Why it matters

It enables the calculation of activity processing time, helping to distinguish between time spent working on a task and time spent waiting for the next step.

Where to get

This information may be available in audit logs or may need to be inferred. Often, it is the same as the StartTime for atomic events.

Examples
2023-04-15T09:05:12Z2023-04-15T14:45:00Z2023-05-01T11:20:00Z
Position Status
PositionStatus
The status of the position at the time of the event.
Description

This attribute indicates the state of the position, such as 'To Be Hired', 'Filled', 'Frozen', or 'Eliminated'. The status often changes as a result of specific activities in the process.

Analyzing position status transitions over time is critical for understanding the position lifecycle and ensuring statuses are used consistently. The 'Position Status Transition Analysis' dashboard relies on this attribute to identify non-standard process flows and check for conformance to defined status models. It helps answer questions about how long positions remain in a particular state.

Why it matters

Tracking status changes is key to analyzing the position lifecycle, ensuring process conformance, and understanding how long positions stay in each state.

Where to get

This corresponds to the status field on the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.

Examples
To Be HiredFilledFrozenEliminated
User ID
UserId
The identifier of the user who performed the activity.
Description

This attribute captures the unique ID of the employee or system user who executed a specific event, such as the manager who approved a position request or the HR administrator who created the position in the system.

Analyzing by User ID is crucial for understanding workload distribution, identifying top performers, and detecting potential training needs. It also helps in resource analysis, compliance checks, and identifying activities that are performed by system or service accounts, indicating automation.

Why it matters

It helps attribute process activities to specific users, enabling workload analysis, performance measurement, and identification of automation.

Where to get

This information is typically found in 'Changed By' or 'User' fields within the audit logs or transaction data for the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
c.bakerj.smithSYSTEM_USER
Budget Approval Status
BudgetApprovalStatus
The status of the budget approval for the position request.
Description

This attribute tracks the state of financial approval for a new position, with values like 'Pending', 'Approved', or 'Rejected'. It is specifically used to monitor the financial clearance step.

This status is essential for calculating the 'Budget Approval Cycle Time' KPI and for the 'Position Budget Approval Duration' dashboard. It isolates the financial approval part of the process, allowing for focused analysis on delays caused by budget-related issues, which can be a significant bottleneck in position creation.

Why it matters

This directly supports the analysis of the budget approval stage, helping to identify and reduce delays in financial clearance for new positions.

Where to get

This information would be part of the position request workflow data in SAP SuccessFactors, likely as a status on a specific approval step.

Examples
Pending FinanceApprovedRejected
Business Unit
BusinessUnitName
The business unit associated with the position.
Description

This attribute identifies the larger business division or unit that the position belongs to, which may be a level above the department.

Similar to Department, Business Unit provides a dimension for high-level comparative analysis. It allows senior leaders to compare position management efficiency across major parts of the business, such as 'Consumer Products' vs. 'Enterprise Software'.

Why it matters

Enables high-level, cross-divisional process performance comparisons and helps align process metrics with strategic business units.

Where to get

This is a standard organizational structure attribute available on the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
Consumer ProductsEnterprise SoftwareGlobal Services
Change Reason
ChangeReason
The reason provided for a modification or reclassification of a position.
Description

When a position is modified or reclassified, users often provide a reason for the change. This attribute captures that reason, such as 'Reorganization', 'Scope Change', or 'Annual Review'.

This is a critical attribute for root cause analysis. It helps explain the 'why' behind process events like reclassifications or attribute modifications. Analyzing the most frequent change reasons can uncover underlying issues, such as unclear initial job descriptions or frequent organizational shifts, which is a key goal of the 'Position Reclassification Analysis' dashboard.

Why it matters

It provides the business context needed for root cause analysis, explaining why changes like reclassifications or modifications are occurring.

Where to get

This data is typically captured in a 'reason' or 'comment' field during transactions that modify the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
ReorganizationScope ChangeAnnual Review
Country
CountryCode
The country where the position is located.
Description

This attribute specifies the country associated with the position's location. It is a key geographical dimension for analysis.

Analyzing the process by country can reveal regional differences in efficiency, compliance requirements, or process execution. For example, position approval times might be significantly longer in one country due to local labor regulations or works council involvement. This helps in understanding and addressing location-specific process variations.

Why it matters

It allows for geographical analysis to identify regional variations in process performance, which may be influenced by local regulations or practices.

Where to get

This is part of the location information associated with the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
USADEUINDGBR
Is First Time Right
IsFirstTimeRight
A flag indicating if a position was created correctly the first time without immediate modifications.
Description

This calculated attribute is a boolean (true/false) flag that checks if a 'Position Created in HR System' activity is followed by a 'Position Attributes Modified' activity within a short, predefined time window (e.g., 24 hours). If no modifications occur, it is marked as 'true'.

This attribute directly supports the 'First-Time Right Creation %' KPI. It serves as a powerful measure of data quality and process effectiveness, highlighting cases where initial data entry was inaccurate or incomplete, leading to immediate rework. A low First Time Right rate indicates potential issues with training, system usability, or data validation rules.

Why it matters

This metric measures the quality of the position creation process, highlighting rework and data quality issues at the point of entry.

Where to get

This is a boolean flag calculated during data transformation by analyzing the sequence of events for each Position ID.

Examples
truefalse
Job Family
PositionJobFamily
The job family or functional area to which the position belongs.
Description

The Job Family is a classification that groups related jobs together, such as 'Engineering', 'Finance', or 'Human Resources'. This provides a higher-level grouping than the specific Position Title.

This attribute is essential for the 'Position Reclassification Analysis' dashboard. It allows analysts to track how frequently positions are reclassified between job families and to identify trends. For example, a high rate of reclassification from 'IT Support' to 'Cybersecurity' might indicate a strategic shift in the organization.

Why it matters

This attribute is crucial for analyzing reclassification trends and understanding organizational structure changes at a functional level.

Where to get

This is part of the job classification structure associated with the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors.

Examples
EngineeringFinanceHuman Resources
Modified Attribute
ModifiedAttribute
The specific attribute or field on the position that was changed.
Description

When a 'Position Attributes Modified' activity occurs, this field specifies which attribute was changed, such as 'Department', 'Job Title', or 'Reports To'.

This provides crucial detail for the 'Position Attribute Change Frequency' dashboard. Instead of just knowing that a change occurred, this allows for analysis of what is changing most frequently. A high volume of changes to a particular attribute might indicate that its definition is unclear or that the initial data provided is often incorrect for that specific field.

Why it matters

It adds critical detail to change events, allowing analysis to identify which specific data points are most volatile or error-prone.

Where to get

This information would come from detailed audit logs in SAP SuccessFactors that capture field-level changes, showing the old and new values.

Examples
DepartmentSupervisorCost CenterJob Title
Position Approval Time
PositionApprovalCycleTime
The total time from when a position request is initiated until it is approved by HR.
Description

This is a calculated KPI that measures the duration of the entire approval phase for a new position. It is calculated at the case level by finding the time difference between the 'Position Request Initiated' event and the 'Position Request Approved by HR' event.

This attribute directly measures the 'Avg Position Approval Time' KPI and is the primary metric for the 'Position Approval Cycle Time' dashboard. It provides a critical measure of organizational agility and the efficiency of the hiring front-end.

Why it matters

This is a key performance indicator that directly measures the efficiency of the position approval workflow, helping to track and reduce delays.

Where to get

This metric is calculated at the case level within the process mining platform or data transformation layer using the timestamps of the relevant activities.

Examples
P3D4H30MP10DP1DT12H
Position Title
PositionTitle
The official job title associated with the position.
Description

This attribute holds the descriptive job title for the position, for example, 'Senior Financial Analyst' or 'Software Engineer II'.

While not a primary driver of process flow, the position title provides important business context. It can be used to filter analyses for specific types of roles or to see if certain job titles are associated with longer creation cycle times or more frequent modifications. It adds a layer of business-friendly detail to the analysis.

Why it matters

It provides valuable business context, allowing for analysis to be filtered or segmented by specific job roles or levels.

Where to get

This is a standard attribute on the Position object in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, often linked to the Job Classification.

Examples
Senior Financial AnalystSoftware Engineer IIMarketing Coordinator
Processing Time
ProcessingTime
The duration of time spent actively working on an activity.
Description

This attribute measures the time taken to complete a single activity, calculated as the difference between the Event End Time and the Event Time (Start Time). This is distinct from cycle time, which includes the waiting time between activities.

Analyzing processing time helps identify which specific steps in the process are the most time-consuming to execute. This allows for targeted improvement efforts, such as simplifying a form, providing better training, or automating a task. For example, it can show if the 'Position Created in HR System' activity takes minutes or hours to complete.

Why it matters

It isolates the active work time for an activity, helping to pinpoint which specific tasks are most time-consuming, separate from any waiting time.

Where to get

This is calculated from the EventTime and EventEndTime fields during data transformation (ProcessingTime = EventEndTime - EventTime).

Examples
PT5M12SPT1H30MP1D
Required Recommended Optional

Hire to Retire - Position Management Activities

These are the key process steps and milestones to capture in your event log for accurate process discovery.
6 Recommended 7 Optional
Activity Description
Position Activated
This event signifies that the newly created position is made active and available for staffing or recruitment. This is typically inferred from a change in the position's status field to an 'Active' value.
Why it matters

Activation is the final step before hiring can begin. Tracking the time from creation to activation helps identify delays in making positions ready for fulfillment.

Where to get

This is inferred by tracking changes to the 'Status' or 'Effective Status' field in the history of the Position MDF object. The timestamp of the change to 'Active' marks the event.

Capture

Inferred from a change in the position status field to 'Active'.

Event type inferred
Position Closed
This is the final event in a position's lifecycle, indicating it has been permanently closed or eliminated. This is typically inferred from a change in the position's status to a terminal value like 'Closed' or 'Eliminated'.
Why it matters

This activity serves as the definitive end point for the process, allowing for accurate end-to-end cycle time analysis. It confirms that the position has been successfully retired.

Where to get

This is inferred by tracking changes to the 'Status' field in the history of the Position MDF object. The timestamp of the change to 'Closed' or 'Eliminated' marks the event.

Capture

Inferred from a change in position status to a terminal value.

Event type inferred
Position Created in HR System
This activity marks the official creation of the position record in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central. It is captured explicitly from the audit trail or history of the Position MDF object, using the creation timestamp.
Why it matters

This is a fundamental milestone that confirms the position officially exists. The 'Position Creation Cycle Time' KPI measures the duration from request initiation to this event, reflecting overall efficiency.

Where to get

This event is derived from the 'Created On' or 'Created Date' system field in the audit history of the Position Metadata Framework (MDF) object for the specific Position ID.

Capture

Extracted from the creation timestamp of the Position object record.

Event type explicit
Position Request Approved by HR
This activity signifies that the Human Resources department has approved the position request. It is a critical milestone, logged as an explicit completion step in the approval workflow.
Why it matters

Final HR approval often concludes the main approval phase before budget allocation or system creation. Measuring the time to reach this step is vital for the 'Avg Position Approval Time' KPI.

Where to get

This is captured from the workflow logs associated with the position request. The event corresponds to the timestamp when the HR representative completes their assigned approval step.

Capture

Logged when the HR approver completes their step in the workflow.

Event type explicit
Position Request Initiated
This event marks the beginning of the position management process, when a user formally submits a request to create a new position. This is captured explicitly when a position creation workflow is triggered in SAP SuccessFactors.
Why it matters

This is the primary start event for the process. Analyzing the time from this activity to others, like position approval or creation, is crucial for measuring overall process efficiency.

Where to get

This event is captured from the initiation of a workflow instance related to a position request. The data can be found in the workflow request tables, such as WfRequest, tied to the Position object.

Capture

Logged upon initiation of a new position workflow.

Event type explicit
Position Request Rejected
This event marks the rejection of a position request at any stage of the approval workflow. It is an explicit event logged by the workflow engine when an approver selects the 'reject' or 'send back' option.
Why it matters

Rejections are critical process deviations that can indicate issues with the request data, budget, or justification. Analyzing rejection reasons helps improve the quality of future requests.

Where to get

This is captured from the workflow log data associated with the position request. It corresponds to a workflow step being completed with a 'rejected' status.

Capture

Logged when an approver rejects a step in the workflow.

Event type explicit
Position Attributes Modified
Represents any change made to the attributes of an existing position, such as its title, department, or cost center. This event is captured explicitly through the audit logs of the Position MDF object.
Why it matters

Frequent modifications can indicate data quality issues or instability in organizational design. Analyzing these events helps measure the 'Position Attribute Mod Rate' and rework.

Where to get

These events are captured from the audit history of the Position MDF object. Each logged change with a 'last modified date' timestamp and user represents a modification activity.

Capture

Logged in the Position object's audit trail for any field change.

Event type explicit
Position Budget Approved
Indicates that the finance department or a budget holder has approved the financial aspects of the new position. This is typically an explicit step within the workflow, occurring after managerial and HR approvals.
Why it matters

Delays in budget approval can significantly stall the hiring process. Isolating this activity helps in analyzing and optimizing the financial clearance stage of position management.

Where to get

This event is captured from the workflow logs for the position request, corresponding to the completion of the finance approval step. The approver is typically identified by a 'Finance' or 'Budget Holder' role.

Capture

Logged when the finance approver completes their step in the workflow.

Event type explicit
Position Deactivated
Represents the formal deactivation of a position, making it inactive and unavailable for use. This is inferred from a change in the position's status to 'Inactive' or 'Deactivated'.
Why it matters

This is a key step in the position retirement process. Tracking the time from suspension to deactivation is crucial for measuring the 'Position Deactivation Lead Time' KPI.

Where to get

This is inferred from the audit history of the Position MDF object by identifying when the 'Status' or 'Effective Status' field is changed to 'Inactive'.

Capture

Inferred from a change in the position status field to 'Inactive'.

Event type inferred
Position Frozen/Suspended
This event indicates that a position has been temporarily put on hold and is not available for staffing. This is inferred from a change in the position's status field to a value like 'Frozen' or 'Suspended'.
Why it matters

This activity often precedes deactivation or closure. Analyzing the duration a position remains frozen helps optimize workforce planning and headcount management.

Where to get

This is inferred by tracking changes to the 'Status' field in the history of the Position MDF object. The timestamp of the change to 'Frozen' or a similar value marks the event.

Capture

Inferred from a change in the position status field to 'Frozen'.

Event type inferred
Position Reclassified
This activity signifies a significant change to a position's core definition, such as a change in its job code or job family. This is inferred from a change to the 'Job Code' or 'Job Classification' field in the Position MDF object.
Why it matters

High reclassification rates can indicate issues with initial job design or evolving business needs. Tracking this helps in analyzing organizational structure stability.

Where to get

This is inferred by monitoring the audit history of the Position MDF object for changes to key classification fields like 'jobCode'. The timestamp of such a change marks the event.

Capture

Inferred from a change in the 'jobCode' field of the Position object.

Event type inferred
Position Request Approved by Manager
Represents the completion of the first level of approval, typically by the hiring or line manager. This is an explicit event logged as a completed step in the position management workflow.
Why it matters

Tracking manager approval times helps identify bottlenecks within specific departments or managerial levels. It is a key milestone for understanding the initial stages of the approval cycle.

Where to get

This is recorded as a step completion event within the workflow log data for the specific position request. It can be identified by the approver's role and the 'approved' status of the workflow step.

Capture

Logged when a user completes an approval step in the workflow.

Event type explicit
Position Reviewed for Compliance
Represents a periodic or event-driven review of a position to ensure it adheres to internal policies or external regulations. The capture mechanism for this event is highly dependent on customer-specific configurations, such as a custom workflow or MDF object.
Why it matters

This activity is essential for monitoring and ensuring organizational compliance. It directly supports KPIs like 'Position Review Compliance %' and helps mitigate risks.

Where to get

Requires system analysis. This may be captured in a custom MDF object linked to the Position, via a custom workflow status update, or through an attachment log.

Capture

Dependent on custom implementation; likely a custom MDF object entry.

Event type explicit
Recommended Optional

Extraction Guides

How to get your data from SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central