Operational Role Update FAQ

1. What is the difference between Designation and Role?

Programmers (P), Programmer Analyst (PA), Associate (A), and Senior Associate (SA) are designations
or grades assigned to associates. Developers, Senior Developer, Module Lead, Project Lead, Test
Analyst, Test Specialist, DW Analyst, and Technical Specialist are the Roles they play; designation
sometimes does not clearly communicate the typical responsibilities and Key Result Areas (KRAs). On the
other hand, by analyzing each role, we understand the nature of the job. This description covers the KRAs
and the responsibilities associated with the role.
Thus, a Role has far more significance than a Designation, as far as Professional Development and
increasing the net knowledge worth of an individual is concerned. It has more relevance in fulfilling a
requirement in the project with an individual who already performs the role or who is qualified to do the
role.
2. What is the scope of ORS System?
The ORS (Operational Role Change System) Application allows HCM supervisors to update the
Operational role for their direct reports. The application also allows associates to raise a request to
update their appropriate operational role.
3. Is the role of an associate changed only through ORS application? Is there an alternative way to
update role directly in Enterprise system?
ESA Project managers can also directly update the role of their team members in ESA directly. Refer to
the ESA role assignment help guide available at
https://cworld.cognizant.com/MyCognizant/MyCareer/Documents/FAQ%20and%20PROCESS%20GUIDE
S/ESA%20Role%20Assignment%20Guide.pdf
4. Why is it important to update the operational role?
The Operational role is critical to help associates understand the responsibilities and required skills for
their role, in the organization. An Operational Role also helps associates identify appropriate
learning/developmental goals. Also, a supervisor should ensure all your direct reports have a correct role.
5. Where can I get a quick insight into the various roles & the required skills?
You can access the below link to know the various tracks/roles/role defitions and related competencies.
https://cworld.cognizant.com/MyCognizant/MyCareer/Pages/CompetencyRoledefinitions.aspx

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6. My Operational role displayed is incorrect. What should I do?

You can raise a request to your supervisor to update the correct role by clicking the Request change
button in ORS application. This will trigger a one click task to your supervisor who can then make the
required changes. Please note that the changes will be reflected in internal systems like HCM/ESA within
a week.

7. How and when should I change the role for my direct reports?
You can change the role for your reports anytime. However ensure that you are validating the role when a
new resource is allocated to the project or role&responsibity of a resource is changed.
You would have received a one click tasks for changing the role for your direct reports or your direct
reports would have requested a change. Click on the one click tasks in order to proceed to change the
role.

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Select the Role family and Track to get the list of roles available. Update the appropriate role by selecting
it from dropdown.
Track refers to the Business unit/Function and Role Family refers to the sub function within the Track.
Eg: Track could refer to CSP and Role family could refer to CSP-Siebel.

8. I can see different status shown for my direct reports in ORS system. What are these statuses?
ORS system has three different status values for any direct report:
Confirmed status Indicates that a new role has been submitted by you already or no action was taken to
change the role.
Pending Submission Indicates that there is a need for change in role for such reports.
Associate requested change Indicates that these direct report(s) have requested a change in their
role.

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9. What are the necessary actions to be taken by me as a supervisor based on the status?
A supervisor should ensure that all his\her direct reports have a correct operational role tagging.
a. For all Pending submission status, there is a need to confirm the current role / submit the new role.
b. For all Associate requested change status, verify if there is need for change & submit new role else
Supervisor can submit the same role.
c. For all confirmed status, verify if the role is correct and submit new role in case you want a change
by clicking the edit link.
10. What does history link mean?
History link shows the various changes done by the supervisor for each direct report through ORS app.

11. Blank roles are shown for some of the direct reports? Why are they blank while other direct reports
have role?
Blank roles may be populated for some of the direct reports due to following reason
i.
If current role is a Generic role like Team member, BD role etc.
ii.
If there is no role tagged to direct reports
For both these conditions, then ORS application will default the role value as blank so that supervisors
can tag to correct operational roles.
Note: If direct reports have no role in ESA currently, in ORS application the role may be defaulted to their
supervisors role.
12. Will the role change reflect immediately in all the Enterprise Systems ESA/HCM after supervisor
submits role information in ORS application?
No. The role changes are not real time between ORS and Enterprise Systems. The change in role would
get reflected in ESA/HCM systems in a weeks time.

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JARGON
Tracks: Track refers to the Business unit/Function and Role Family refers to the sub function within the
Track.Eg: Track could refer to CSP and Role family could refer to CSP-Siebel.
Roles: Each Track can be viewed as a Career Ladder with the individual roles as rungs in the ladder. For
example, a Project Management track will have the following rolesDeveloper, Senior Developer,
Module/Client Lead, Project Lead, Project Manager.
Job Definitions: Every Role needs to have well-defined responsibilities, competencies and proficiency
levels to provide clarity to the role-holder
Competencies: A comprehensive suite of competencies that are applicable across the various Roles were
put together. These set of competencies with varying proficiency levels define the capabilities of each
individual
Proficiency levels: Every competency can be rated across five proficiency levelsLearner (1), Practitioner
(2), Specialist (3), Expert (4), Guru (5)
Supporting Systems: HCM (Skill updates), ESA (Project role), ORS (Operational Role Change System)

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