Workday Words of the Week 1 – Foundation

Understanding Workday: Building a Foundation of Knowledge

Workday is a powerful, cloud-based tool that will help Clemson manage payroll, time, budgets, expenses, and more. If the terminology seems overwhelming, you are not alone. Throughout the next year we’ll be posting Workday Words of the Week (about every 2 weeks) to help you build your Workday vocabulary.

Core Workday Terms for Everyday Users

1. Company – A company is an organization in Workday that represents a business entity within our Clemson enterprise. Companies that fall under the Clemson enterprise within Workday include but are not limited to:
   • Clemson University (CLEMU)
   • Clemson University Foundation (CUFDN)
   • Clemson Alumni Association (ALUMN)
2. Tenant – A Tenant is simply Clemson’s version of Workday. A tenant is where all your data lives. Users will access Clemson’s Workday tenant by visiting a specific URL. Most users will only use the “Production Tenant,” which is the live, real system. During the implementation, several temporary tenants are used including a Testing Tenant and Training Tenant. These will be decommissioned after go-live.
3. Foundation Data Model (FDM) – In Workday, the FDM is the core framework for how financial and organizational data is structured, organized, and connected across the system. The FDM will replace the complex 23-digit account string currently used in PeopleSoft system.  Find out more about the Foundation Data Model. The FDM impacts reporting, security, and workflow.
4. Worktag – A label you select within Workday to attach to a transaction—like an expense, purchase, or journal entry—to identify and categorize it for budgeting, reporting, and accounting. Instead of using long account codes, you pick plain-language tags so transactions can be tracked and reported on. For most transactions at least one Worktag is required. Some examples of Worktags include:
   • Funds:
     • FD001 Tuition and Fees
     • FD007 State Sponsored Research
   • Grants:
     • GR03545 2016509-Consortium for Nuclear Forensics
     • GR03540 2026385-Clemson University Battery Works
   • Gifts:
     • GF08706 CLEMU | Johnson Controls Operating Fund | GF04237
     • GF08709 CLEMU | Taco Bell Foundation Community Grant | GF04240
   • Projects:
     • PJ00316 CAMP | Lightsey Bridge 23B Structural Repair 
     • PJ00327 CAMP | Sirrine Hall, Room 270, Renovations
   • Spend Categories:
     • Registration Feeds
     • Office Supplies
5. Organizations – Organizations are a type of worktag! Workday groups data into organizations, or hierarchies.  There are three primary types of organizations.
   • Supervisory Organization – This is how Workday groups employees and managers. Think of it as your “team” or the people in your department.
   • Cost Center – For Clemson this most logically translates to “department” or business unit but is specifically used to organize financial data and transactions. Example of cost centers include:
     • CC0484 SCI | Chemistry,
     • CC0573 ATH | Football Athletic Training
     • CC0509 STUD | Dean of Students Office
     • CC0179 CAFLS | Dean’s Office
   • Academic Unit – In Workday academic colleges, departments, and other organizations within which individuals hold academic. This can get confused with Supervisory Organizations, as their membership is often similar, but the Academic Unit and Supervisory Organizations have different purposes.

Making Workday Work for You

Workday is designed to help you manage your work life with ease—from updating your info and requesting time off to reviewing your pay. Understanding these core terms is not just for HR, Financial staff, or managers; it empowers every users to make the most of the system. Stay on the lookout for a full glossary and more Workday Words of the Week in this blog and soon you will be speaking “Workday” like a pro.