How Assignment Values Are Inherited from Position
If you enable position synchronization, assignments inherit specified values from the associated position. You can also specify whether the inherited values can be overridden in the assignment.
You can specify this at the enterprise and legal entity levels using the Manage Enterprise HCM Information and Manage Legal Entity HCM Information tasks respectively.
Overriding of Assignment Values
When you enable position synchronization, you specify which attributes the assignment inherits from the position due to synchronization. Assignment attributes synchronized from position inherit their values from the position and aren't editable. The restriction on editing values in the assignment applies only to the information that's entered in the position. For example, if the Bargaining Unit isn't entered in the position, you can edit this value in the assignment even though it's one of the attributes inherited from the position. If override is allowed at the assignment level, then you can specify at the assignment level whether you want to synchronize from position or not. By default, the Synchronize from Position attribute on the Edit Assignments page is set to Yes. If you prevent override at the assignment level, users can't update the specified attributes that the assignment has inherited from the position. You can use personalization to enable managers to specify a value for the Synchronize from Position field.
You can choose to either retain the existing values in the assignment or update the values from the position for any attributes that aren't synchronized. So, if you don't select the grade attribute for synchronization and update the grade value in the position, you can either retain the existing grade value in the assignment or update it from the position.
If a synchronized attribute is empty at the position, then this attribute won't be synchronized in the assignment. You can enter any value for this attribute in the assignment. If a value already exists for this attribute, it will be retained and you can change it to any other value.
Let’s see how assignments are impacted when position and position synchronization details are modified using different applications.
| Parameters | Responsive Employment Flows | HDL or HSDL | REST | Request a Position Change - Impacted Assignments | Synchronize Person Assignment from Position Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position Attributes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Position Flexfields | Yes Note: Only if the mapping is defined for the assignment flexfield. |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Manager from Position Hierarchy | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Manager from Position | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Synchronize Reports from Position Hierarchy | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Calculate FTE as per Position Working Hours | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
For example, if position synchronization is enabled and you change the position in the responsive employment flows, all position parameters are synchronized except direct reports. If you load the position parameters changes using HCM Data Loader (HDL), HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader (HSDL), or REST, then only the position attributes are synchronized. The Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process updates all assignments irrespective of the application used.
These are some key points to note.
- Position attributes are synchronized irrespective of the application used for the update.
- Position flexfields are synchronized in responsive employment flows and when you run the Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process. Flexfield data can also be updated in responsive employment flows.
- Line manager is defaulted from the position hierarchy in responsive employment flows, and when you run the Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process.
- Line manager is defaulted from the position in responsive employment flows, when there is change in the position, and when you run the Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process.
- Direct reports can be synchronized only when you run the Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process.
- FTE is calculated based on the position working hours in responsive employment flows and when you run the Synchronize Person Assignment from Position process.
For more information on the attributes that can be synchronized, refer to the topic Position Synchronization.