Glossary of Terms
The following is a list of common acronyms and terms used throughout the BEACON program.
| Term | Definition |
| ABAP | Advanced Business Application Programming. The programming language of SAP’s ERP software. |
| Basis | The underlying technology base that allows SAP's functional applications and modules to interoperate. |
| BEACON | Building Enterprise Access for NC’s Core Operation Needs. It is the State’s program to modernize and standardize key business processes in human resources, payroll, budget management, taxation, data storage and accounting. |
| BearingPoint | The vendor selected to assist the State with its implementation of SAP. |
| Blueprinting | Phase 2 of the implementation process. During this period, the project team will identify the state’s organizational structures, design new business processes, install the SAP software and begin training for the team. |
| BPS | Budget Preparation System. BPS supports the development of the State's biennial budget. |
| BRS | Budget Revision System. BRS enables agencies to make revisions to the certified budget. |
| Business Warehouse | SAP’s term for a data warehouse, where state data is stored. |
| CATS | Cross Application Time Sheet. An electronic time sheet for recording employee working times. |
| CBS | Core Budget System. CBS is used to prepare the Governor's continuation budget for the Legislature, to certify the Legislature's approved budget, to process revisions to the budget, and to monitor annual salary obligations. |
| Change Management | Managing the organizational change that will impact the State through the project activities. |
| CMCS | Cash Management Control System. CMCS is an online system created for the purpose of recording daily transactions that affect the cash balances of the State. |
| Configuration | The process of establishing the SAP settings to support specific business rules, validations, and default values for North Carolina. |
| CPS | Central Payroll System. CPS performs the gross and net payroll calculation for all state agency employees not covered by one of the other 12 payroll systems. |
| DOT | Department of Transportation. |
| Go Live & Support | The fifth and final phase of the implementation. This is when the system will move into actual production. |
| EE | Employees. This abbreviation is used for employees in the SAP software. |
| ELTS | Employee Leave Tracking System. ELTS captures time and attendance information to support the payroll process. |
| ERP | Enterprise Resource Planning. A collection of software applications that use a common database to integrate an organization’s business processes. |
| ERP 2005 | The version of the SAP software that will be installed as part of the BEACON implementation project. |
| ESS | Employee Self Service. |
| ITS | Office of Information Technology Services. |
| Infoset | A SAP Query element, Infosets determine to which tables, or fields within a table, a query can refer. Infosets are usually based on table joins or logical databases. |
| Infotype | A set of data that is grouped together according to subject matter. From the user perspective, infotypes are entry screens that support the maintenance of infotype records. |
| Integrated System | Two or more system components merged together to behave as a single system that share a common database. Increasingly, the term ‘integrated software’ is reserved for applications that combine functions like budget, accounting and procurement into a single package. |
| Integration | Allows data to flow freely from one business area to another without having to pass through time-consuming and trouble-prone interfaces. Integration also enables the maintenance of data from various sites. |
| ITAS | Integrated Tax Administration System. ITAS is the primary system used by the NC Department of Revenue to administer the revenue collection functions. |
| Landscape | All the R/3 systems, which share a common transport directory. |
| Legacy Applications | The numerous and dated computer programs currently being used by state agencies. The mySAP ERP software will eventually replace those involving human resources, payroll, budget management, accounting, and tax/revenue. |
| MSS | Manager Self Service. |
| MySAP.com | The specific type of ERP software being implemented by North Carolina. |
| Module | The SAP software is comprised of several functions (e.g., time management, payroll, personnel administration), which together form an integrated system. |
| NCAS | North Carolina Accounting System. NCAS provides control over the State's fiscal policies and procedures, financial transactions, resource balances, and subsidiary accounts and records through a central general ledger and other uniform information databases. |
| OSC | Office of the State Controller. |
| OSP | Office of State Personnel. |
| PMIS | Personnel Management Information System. PMIS is the main Human Resource system for State employees, providing a centralized data repository for personnel records. |
| PMO | Program Management Office. The PMO assists the Program Steering Committee in establishing program reporting standards and management tracking tools. |
| Portal | The Web interface that will be used by employees and managers to access the HR/payroll system. |
| Project Preparation | Phase 1 of integration, which included the organization of the project team, various team-building activities, the project kick-off, and initial planning. |
| Realization | Phase 3 of the implementation. During this time, the project team will configure the HR and payroll modules, and implement processes defined in the “blueprint” that was developed in Phase II. |
| Role | The duties, skills, and knowledge an employee uses to fulfill the requirements of a position. |
| SAP | The software company selected by North Carolina to provide ERP business solutions. |
| SAP Query | Tool that allows users without knowledge of the ABAP programming language to define and execute their own reports. |
| SBIP | Statewide Business Infrastructure Program. Original name of BEACON. |
| SCS | Salary Control System. SCS brings together all budget and personnel transactions that affect salaries and position counts to report the annual obligation and show annual salary reserve generated or consumed by these changes. |
| SMEs | Subject Matter Experts. State government and university system representatives who are considered to be specialists in certain business areas (modules). |
| Stakeholder | A person, department or organization that has an interest in the success of a project. |
| State Business Infrastructure Study | A study initiated by the General Assembly in 2001 to examine the State’s core business systems. |
| Statement of Work | A document that sets forth services to be performed. |
| System Test | An implementation activity that tests the interfaces between sets of applications or functional areas in a new system. It verifies the ability of the system to handle data and operating requirements. |
| Time Recording | Time recording captures and evaluates all employee time information required for running payroll in payroll accounting. Time information includes attendance, absence, or availability data for employees. |
| UAT | User Acceptance Testing. The final stage of functional testing before the Go Live phase. |
| User Group | Every user can be assigned to specific groups based on their role in the organization. |