Search Results per_pos_structure_elements

Overview

The PER_POS_STRUCTURE_ELEMENTS table is a core data object within the Oracle E-Business Suite Human Resources (PER) module, specifically for versions 12.1.1 and 12.2.2. It serves as the foundational table for defining and storing hierarchical reporting relationships between positions within an organization. This table does not store the positions themselves but rather the structural links that define how positions relate to one another in a supervisory chain. Its primary role is to enable the system to model complex organizational reporting structures, which is critical for workflows, approvals, security, and managerial reporting. The data in this table is essential for representing the official, functional hierarchy distinct from the supervisory relationships defined between individual employees.

Key Information Stored

The table's structure is designed to capture the essential components of a hierarchical link. The primary identifier is the POS_STRUCTURE_ELEMENT_ID. Each record is associated with a specific hierarchy definition via the POS_STRUCTURE_VERSION_ID, which links to the PER_POS_STRUCTURE_VERSIONS table. The core relationship is defined by two key columns: the PARENT_POSITION_ID and the SUBORDINATE_POSITION_ID, both foreign keys to the PER_ALL_POSITIONS table. This pair establishes a direct parent-child reporting link. The BUSINESS_GROUP_ID provides the organizational context and security boundary for the data. The unique key constraint (PER_POS_STRUCTURE_ELEMENTS_UK2) on the version ID and subordinate position ID helps enforce data integrity by preventing duplicate subordinate entries within the same hierarchy version.

Common Use Cases and Queries

This table is central to any reporting or process that traverses the position hierarchy. Common use cases include generating organizational charts based on positions (rather than incumbent employees), determining approval authorities for workflows based on position, and implementing security profiles that restrict data access by managerial position. A fundamental query pattern involves a self-join or hierarchical query (CONNECT BY) to walk up or down the reporting chain from a given position. For example, to find all positions reporting directly or indirectly to a specific manager's position, one would query starting with that position's ID as the PARENT_POSITION_ID. Conversely, to find the full managerial chain above a position, the query would start with the SUBORDINATE_POSITION_ID and traverse upward via PARENT_POSITION_ID. Reporting often joins this table with PER_ALL_POSITIONS and PER_POS_STRUCTURE_VERSIONS to provide descriptive names and hierarchy context.

Related Objects

• PER_POS_STRUCTURE_VERSIONS: This table defines the hierarchy (structure) itself and its effective dates. Each record in PER_POS_STRUCTURE_ELEMENTS must belong to a valid version.
• PER_ALL_POSITIONS: The primary table for position master data. Both the PARENT_POSITION_ID and SUBORDINATE_POSITION_ID columns are foreign keys to this table.
• HR_ALL_ORGANIZATION_UNITS: Linked via the BUSINESS_GROUP_ID foreign key, providing the enterprise or business group context.
• Security Profiles & Workflow Definitions: While not direct database objects, these application components heavily rely on the relationships stored in this table to define data access and approval routing rules.