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The FND_RESPONSIBILITY table is a fundamental component within Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) Release 12.1.1 and 12.2.2, serving as the repository for responsibility-level security definitions. Responsibilities in Oracle EBS represent a collection of functions, menus, and data access privileges assigned to users, enabling role-based access control (RBAC) across the application. This table is part of the Oracle Application Object Library (FND) module, which underpins the security and navigation framework of the entire EBS ecosystem.

Key Attributes of FND_RESPONSIBILITY

The table contains critical columns that define responsibility behavior and access rules:
  • RESPONSIBILITY_ID: Primary key, uniquely identifying each responsibility.
  • APPLICATION_ID: References the application owning the responsibility (foreign key to FND_APPLICATION).
  • RESPONSIBILITY_KEY: Unique identifier used for programmatic references.
  • RESPONSIBILITY_NAME: User-facing name displayed in the GUI.
  • DESCRIPTION: Optional explanatory text.
  • MENU_ID: Links to the menu hierarchy (FND_MENUS) assigned to the responsibility.
  • START_DATE/END_DATE: Defines the active period for the responsibility.
  • DATA_GROUP_ID: Associates the responsibility with a data group (for multi-org access control).
  • VERSION: Tracks concurrent program compatibility.

Functional Significance

Responsibilities act as the bridge between users and application functionality:
  1. Access Control: By assigning responsibilities to user roles, administrators restrict access to specific modules (e.g., General Ledger, Payables).
  2. Menu Navigation: The MENU_ID determines which functions appear in the Navigator menu.
  3. Data Security: Combined with profile options, responsibilities enforce data visibility rules (e.g., OU access in Multi-Org).
  4. Audit Trail: The CREATION_DATE, CREATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE columns support compliance tracking.

Integration Points

The table maintains relationships with other key security objects:
  • FND_USER_RESP_GROUPS: Maps responsibilities to users with effective date ranges.
  • FND_RESP_FUNCTIONS: Stores function-level exclusions for responsibilities.
  • FND_PROFILE_OPTION_VALUES: Responsibility-specific profile option settings.
  • WF_LOCAL_ROLES: Ties responsibilities to workflow roles.

Technical Considerations

In EBS 12.2.2, the table remains largely unchanged from 12.1.1, but operates within the upgraded Oracle Fusion Middleware layer. Key technical aspects include:
  • Indexing: Heavily indexed on RESPONSIBILITY_ID, APPLICATION_ID, and RESPONSIBILITY_KEY for performance.
  • APIs: The FND_RESPONSIBILITY_PKG PL/SQL package provides programmatic access.
  • Patches: Occasionally updated with new columns (e.g., WEB_HOST_NAME for SSO integration).
  • VPD Policies: In 12.2.2, Virtual Private Database policies may augment traditional responsibility security.

Administration Best Practices

When managing responsibilities:
  1. Always clone existing responsibilities rather than creating from scratch.
  2. Use meaningful RESPONSIBILITY_KEY values for easier maintenance.
  3. Leverage the END_DATE field to automatically expire obsolete responsibilities.
  4. Regularly audit responsibility assignments through FND_USER_RESP_GROUPS.
The FND_RESPONSIBILITY table remains a cornerstone of Oracle EBS security architecture across both 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 releases, enabling granular control over user access while maintaining flexibility for complex enterprise requirements.