Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed having the steps of receiving a user input selecting an entity name, and generating an entity table associated with the entity name and configured to store data related to a business unit. The method further includes the steps of populating the entity table with unique explicit entity ID values, generating a unique internal entity ID value for each one of the explicit entity ID values, associating each internal entity ID value with a corresponding one of the explicit entity ID values, and storing the internal entity ID values in the entity table. The entity table is associated with a separate data table such that at least one of the explicit entity ID values is displayed, but not stored, in an ID field of the data table, while the corresponding associated internal entity ID value is stored in the data table but not displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of configuring and processing a compensation plan in a plan management system is disclosed, including the steps of presenting a graphical user interface via a display device that is configured to present guidance and receive user input related to the compensation plan. The method further includes the steps of receiving a user input specifying a plan roster containing a plan entity for which the compensation plan performs calculations, receiving a user input specifying a plan metric configured to perform a metric calculation on input data related to the plan entity to produce metrics data, receiving a user input specifying a plan component configured to perform an earnings calculation on input data comprising the metric results data to produce earnings data, and receiving a user input specifying a plan payment configured to perform a payment calculation on input data comprising the earnings data to produce payments data.