PeopleSoft WorkCenters

Overview
PeopleSoft WorkCenters are a one stop shop for users performing different business transactions to take action
on alerts and view reports and analytics. The built-in intelligence delivers work to the user instead of the user
searching for information. It makes multitasking very easy and seamless, without losing focus.
With PeopleSoft expanding its footprint and introducing features, the number of clicks needed to navigate to a
task has increased over the years. More effort must be expended in finding the right link. Users must remember
the various steps that are required or relevant to the task at hand.
PeopleSoft WorkCenters simplify the process and reduce the time and effort it takes to perform a business
process.

WorkCenters

SkyBridge Global, Inc. 161 Village Parkway NE; Building 7 Marietta, GA 30067
Phone: 770-373-2300 - Fax: 770-953-8360

WorkCenter Maturity Model

WorkCenters were originally conceptualized in PeopleSoft Enterprise portal. That model utilized pagelets
created by developers using templates, PeopleCode & Pagelet Wizard to simplify tasks at hand.
PeopleSoft took that concept and introduced pure configuration based WorkCenters to HCM 9.1/PeopleTools
8.52. WorkCenters were further refined in HCM 9.2/PeopleTools 8.53.
PeopleTools 8.52
PeopleTools 8.52 introduced support for homepage pagelets, partial refresh in component-based pagelets (still
created in Application Designer).
PeopleTools 8.53
PeopleTools 8.53 improved the way WorkCenter pages and dashboards were designed and used moving to
configurations vs. development. Applications could now consume remote pagelets in WorkCenter pages,
homepages, and dashboards.
PeopleTools 8.53 also introduced activity guides, which allow application developers to define processes that
guide users through a series of predefined actions. Activity guides are often used for infrequent self-service
events, such as benefits enrollment, and also can be used for managing process-specific tasks, such as periodend-close in PeopleSoft FSCM.
Breadcrumbs refer to the collective sequence of items that appear above the content area when you navigate to
transaction pages or navigation pages. As of PeopleTools 8.53, when navigating within a WorkCenter or from a
dashboard, the breadcrumbs include the WorkCenter or dashboard link.
PeopleTools 8.52 also introduced certification for the Safari browser on an iPad running version 4.2 or later.

Benefits of Using WorkCenters

1. Additional Navigation Method
WorkCenter pages provide an additional navigation method compared to the traditional top navigation menu.

2. WorkCenter pages can be constructed for a variety of roles within your organization.
WorkCenter pages are role-based employee-facing portals for users in specific roles. For example, WorkCenter
pages for accounts payable clerks, managers, and supervisors, offer a central place to do their day-to-day work,
where all related transaction pages, search pagelets, and analytics pagelets are available in one central location.
The transactional page is included as part of the WorkCenter page, so users do not have to navigate away from
the page to execute tasks.
3. Better User Experience
PeopleSoft Application users today must navigate between multiple pages and multiple open windows in order
to complete a task. Moreover, they are often interrupted in their work with inquiries from management,
customers, or suppliers, while managing a list of tasks on paper, in email, and so on.
WorkCenter pages can integrate all pages that users need to access in one location. Users see all relevant
information at a glance, providing a complete picture of their work. By organizing all relevant information pages
and reports in one location, organizations can be more efficient and effective. Users know exactly what their
priorities are at any given point and can work toward resolving exceptions and bottlenecks quickly.
WorkCenters provide users with a map of tasks that must be performed or relevant to a particular business
process.
WorkCenter pages eliminate the common challenges of conventional applications:

Numerous steps to navigate between pages.

Multiple windows open to get the job done.
No efficient way to manage job interruptions (inquiries, ad hoc report requests, and so on).
Tasks managed on paper, in email, and in other applications.
No central place to see the complete picture of the job.

The following diagram illustrates how WorkCenter pages can enhance the user experience of applications and
attendant utilities:

4. Changes limited to set up. No PeopleCode changes needed.

One major benefit of WorkCenters is that functional users can set them up without any requirement to write or
migrate code.

5. Dashboards
With PeopleSoft 9.2, Oracle has delivered additional dashboards with the existing dashboard called the Manager
dashboard in 9.1. Dashboards provide business managers a high level view of their operations.
A screenshot of the manager dashboard is given below:

As you can see important managerial tasks are available on a single dashboard which can be further configured
and items added/removed. Similarly dashboard can be created for other objectives such as recruiting or
accounts payable.

Out of Box WorkCenters

PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 delivers several pre-built WorkCenter pages. Customers can create their own WorkCenters
as well, using the capabilities provided in PeopleTools. WorkCenter pages are created using delivered or custom
templates.
Examples of delivered WorkCenters:
Integrated ePerformance WorkCenter streamlines the performance review process. On the left side of the
WorkCenter, users are presented the process step list, which shows the ones that are completed, the ones that
are left to complete and the current step that theyre on. The right side of the WorkCenter shows the document
section that corresponds to the current step, and it is where users should work on in the review process.
Integration of ePerformance and Career Planning provides managers quick access to employees career
development data while working on reviews without leaving the WorkCenter. This integration also provides
succession planning personnel easy access to employees performance data from the Manage Succession Plans
component, giving them the relevant information they need to make well-informed succession planning
decisions and recommendations.
The PeopleSoft Time and Labor WorkCenter combines transactions, analytics, workflow, alerts, and reports into
a configurable framework that can be tailored to each role-based user. This WorkCenter increases users'
productivity by streamlining and simplifying their work and providing access to all their needed information in
one place.

As you can see in the above illustration, the step by step work that a manager has to perform in order to
approve time/overtime and subsequent steps appears on a single pagelet on the left hand side with the Time
and labor WorkCenter label. The right frame is the main transaction area.

Steps to Create WorkCenter Pages/Configure WorkCenter

Step 1:
Navigate to: PeopleTools > Portal > Portal Utilities > Navigation Collections
Select Add collection to add a new Navigation Collection

Step 2:
This opens the maintain collection page. Enter the name and description of the collection

The bottom of the page will show the immediate structure of the collection. Select Add Link to add
pages/components to the collection. Alternatively we can select add folder to create a folder link. In this
document we will add both a link and folder.

Step 3:
After selecting Add link, provide the menu item details for the component we need to open. The Additional
Parameters box can contain additional details such as extension of URL, so that a particular page opens up in
the component.

We can also give the override Image and label. On selecting OK we are taken back to maintain collection page.
Now we add a folder.

We provide the folder image and label.

Both the link and folder are added to the collection as seen below.

Step 4:
Go to the publish collection tab.

We have to create a navigation pagelet as this pagelet will be appearing on the left hand menu. Select the
category as Common WorkCenter pagelet as shown below.

Select Save to publish the collection.

Step 5: Creating the WorkCenter
Navigate to: PeopleTools > Portal > WorkCenter > Manage WorkCenter Pages.
Select Create new WorkCenter page. This link is present at the bottom.
Select the opening page for the WorkCenter. In this example we are selecting Global create other compare ID.

Step 6:
Select the label for the WorkCenter. Since this is not an activity guide, we select Default layout. The navigation
collection we created was published as a pagelet. SO we select the magnifying glass against homepage pagelet
under the pagelet groups section. This is the Assign Pagelet page.

Select the pagelet we created. Pagelet name is created automatically by PeopleSoft so it may look different as
the system adds a string like ADMIN_ to keep it unique.

Select properties on the Assign pagelet page. Here we can select the folder where we want our WorkCenter to
appear.

Click the save button to create the WorkCenter at the desired location.

About the Authors

Prabir Mehta is an Engagement Manager with 12 years of experience leading multi-phase, multi-resource
PeopleSoft HCM and Portal projects. At SkyBridge, Prabir manages the development, testing and deployment of
PayMatch and leads the SkyBridge Application Management Services team.
Rajesh Vishwanathan is a Senior PeopleSoft developer with over 6 years of experience as a developer and team
lead. He has deployed and customized PeopleSoft Applications around the globe with a focus on PeopleSoft
HCM and PeopleTools.

About SkyBridge Global

SkyBridge Global is an Atlanta-based integration and consulting form and an Oracle Platinum Partner. SkyBridge
helps Emerging, Mid-Market and Enterprise companies evaluate, implement and support Oracle Applications
and Technology related solutions with a focus on Oracles PeopleSoft Enterprise, Enterprise Business Suite,
Oracle Fusion Applications and Business Intelligence solutions. Founded in 1998, SkyBridge is an industry leader
and has assisted more than 250 clients throughout the US and North America.
Website:
http://www.skybridgeglobal.com/
PayMatch For Payroll:
http://www.skybridgeglobal.com/solutions/peoplesoft/paymatch-for-payroll.aspx
SkyBridge Application Management Services:
http://www.skybridgeglobal.com/our-services/application-management.aspx