A business unit is used to identify a level of organizational structure within Workday. Business units have security roles assigned to them which drives approval routing.

Business unit usage is restricted to major organizational units (colleges, SVPs) for strategic decision-making.

Business units are a default related worktag to cost center. All cost centers roll up to a business unit. Business units are also a default related worktag for all driver worktags (grant, gift, project, and program).

Business units follow these naming conventions:

  • Business unit ID codes begin with the prefix BU followed by two numeric digits (BU11).
  • The business unit ID code must be included with the business unit name in Workday.
  • Examples of business units in Workday:
    • BU10 Iowa State University
    • BU21 Engineering
    • BU66 Dean of Students

Only one top-level business unit hierarchy exists in Workday, and all business units are assigned to it.

Business Unit  Hiearchy Description Hierarchy Business Owners
Iowa State University Includes all business units in Workday. Additional layers of business unit hierarchies exist beneath this top-level hierarchy.

Heather Lynn Paris, SVP Operations and Finance

Amy Tetmeyer, Controller

 

The Workday Finance Data Governance Operational Committee maintains sole review and approval authority over requests for business unit creation and maintenance. If you would like to request a new business unit or maintenance to an existing one, please contact the Operational Committee.

Visit the Worktag Inactivation Procedures page for guidance on how to request worktag inactivation.

  • ISU Business Units and Hierarchies - This report shows all business units in Workday and three levels of superior/parent hierarchies, if any exist. 
  • Navigate Business Unit - Use this report to view and the parent and child relationship of business unit hierarchies in an organization chart format. You are required to select a business unit hierarchy when prompted.
  • View Business Unit - Use this report to view details of a specific business unit, including workers assigned to the business unit, and assignable security roles and role holders.
  • ISU Business Unit, Fund and Function by Ledger Account - This report shows the beginning and ending balances, debit and credit amounts, and net change for all business units and their associated funds and functions that meet your search criteria. It is sorted by ledger account. You are required to select an accounting period. Optionally, you may select one or more worktags and ledger accounts to narrow your search.
  • ISU Labor Summary by Budget Date with Obligations - Business Unit - This report shows the month-by-month actuals and obligations for all business units that meet your search criteria. You are required to select one or more organizations and the accounting period. The top-level Iowa State University business unit hierarchy and current accounting period are selected by default. 
  • ISU Labor Summary by Budget Date with Obligations - Business Unit/Cost Center - This report is similar to the report above, but adds the cost center level of detail. 
  • ISU Year End Financial Summary Balance – Legislative and Advance Commitments by Business Unit - This report returns a variety of financial data including, but not limited to, revenue and expense budgets, YTD revenue and expenses, and the net plus fiscal balance forward, broken down by business unit. You are required to select one or more organizations, an accounting period, and budget structure when prompted. Optionally, you may select one or more IRT hierarchies and worktags to further narrow your search results.