Don't you just hate it when batch processes like Payroll, BEE, and BENMNGLE take up all the threads and your report sits there pending for what seems like an eternity? There is something you can do about it.
Oracle uses Concurrent Managers to segregate processes as they run. Each manager limits the number of processes that it can run simultaneously. Oracle delivers around 40 managers out of the box - of course none of these are related to HR. HR processes (including Payroll and Benefits) will typically go into the Standard manager along with most other apps' processes. With everyone running processes, the limit for the Standard manager will quickly be reached and then the Pending starts. People will start to see their processes in Pending status instead of Running (especially when these processes are multi-threaded like BENMNGLE, the Payroll processes, and Security List Maintenance).
If you have System Administrator - you can check out your Managers by going to Concurrent Manager > Administer. Click on Requests to see the what is running, pending, etc.
There will always be situations where all of the slots available will be full - but one way to reduce this from happening is to split out the big multi-threaded processes from the Standard Manager. Easy enough - go to Concurrent Manager > Define and set it up. To set the number of processes that can run at the same time - click on Work Shifts and change the Processes. Then go to the Specialization Rules and include your processes.
Activate the Manager (back on the Administer form) and you are ready to roll (or submit).
In this example, the BENMNGLE process (Participation Process: Life Event), its threads and reports will all run in my custom manager. That means that when someone goes to run their high priority birthday listing report - they will not need to wait on BENMNGLE to complete.
Now that you have a loaded weapon - some "gotchas". You can add additional managers all day long, but there still needs to be a cap on the number of processes running at one time. Bad things can happen (like your server running out of memory and crashing). Stay away from situations like having separate manages for the Payroll Process and BENMNGLE - then running them both at the same time with 8 threads each.
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