Demystifying SAP HR Evaluation Paths: A Guide for Effective Reporting

Navigating the system’s intricacies can be complex for HR professionals working within the SAP ecosystem. One feature often raises questions is the concept of evaluation paths in SAP HR. This blog highlights evaluation paths, their purpose, and how they can be leveraged for more effective HR reporting.

Understanding Evaluation Paths

An evaluation path in SAP HR, specifically within the Organizational Management (OM) module, acts as a roadmap. It defines relationships between different object types within your organization’s structure. These object types can include organizational units (Org Units), positions, and individuals (Persons).

The Power of Relationships

Evaluation paths tell the system how to navigate your organizational structure. By specifying these relationships, you can tailor reports to focus on specific groups or hierarchies. Consider a typical example: the standard evaluation path “O-S-P.” This path signifies Org Unit -> Position -> Person. This built-in path allows you to generate reports encompassing employees within specific departments (Org Units) based on their positions.

Beyond the Standard Paths

While SAP provides pre-defined evaluation paths, you have the flexibility to create custom paths as well. These custom paths, typically named with a leading “Z,” enable you to define more intricate relationships for reporting purposes. Imagine needing a report on all employees who report to a specific manager, irrespective of their department. A custom evaluation path can be crafted to achieve this by establishing the connection between Person -> Position -> Manager (another Person object type).

Benefits of Utilizing Evaluation Paths

• Targeted Reporting: Evaluation paths empower you to drill down into your HR data and generate reports that target specific groups within the organization. This leads to more insightful and actionable reports.
• Improved Efficiency: Evaluation paths streamline report generation by defining the data retrieval process, saving you valuable time and effort.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: With targeted reports, HR professionals can better understand workforce trends and make data-driven decisions for talent management and strategic planning.

Crafting Your Evaluation Path Strategy

Here are some key considerations when working with evaluation paths:

• Identify Reporting Needs: Clearly define the information you require from your HR reports. This will guide you in selecting or creating the most suitable evaluation path.
• Understand Object Relationships: Familiarize yourself with the object types available in SAP HR and how they interact with each other.
• Explore Existing Paths: Explore SAP’s pre-defined options before creating a custom path. You might find a standard path that fulfills your needs.
• Seek Guidance: Consult your organization’s SAP specialist or refer to SAP documentation for comprehensive instructions on creating and managing evaluation paths.

By effectively leveraging evaluation paths, HR professionals can unlock the full potential of SAP HR reporting. Gaining more profound insights into your workforce empowers you to make informed decisions contributing to a more successful organization.