What's New for May '17

Safe Harbor Statement: Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other documents or public statements are not currently GENERALLY available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Cornerstone OnDemand applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available.

Select this link to download the complete release notes.

The following new features and enhancements are available for the May '17 release as of 13 April 2017:

Connect Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Add Connect Fields to Custom Reporting Add Connect Fields to Custom Reporting   With this enhancement, Connect administrators and community moderators can more accurately measure Connect usage and engagement within their communities. Community moderators can now report on their most active users and segment them by name, email address, and organizational unit (OU).
Edit Cohorts Edit Cohorts   With this enhancement, administrators can now edit any cohort field prior to the cohort end date. Once the cohort end date has passed, the cohort cannot be edited. This enables administrators and instructors to adapt to the needs of the cohort students.

Core Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Approvals API Approvals API Yes

With this enhancement, an Approvals API is added to the web service catalog, and this API enables users to view, approve, and deny requests on the user's Universal profile page. Using the Approvals API, users can review and manage approvals for offer letters, compensation plans, development plans, and more.

Armenian Language Pack Armenian Language Pack Yes With this enhancement, the Armenian Language Pack is now available for organizations to purchase.
Auto-Upgrade of Display Themes Auto-Upgrade of Display Themes   To provide an optimized experience on mobile devices for improved accessibility and to meet WCAG/508 compliance, Cornerstone is retiring the following themes in this release: Standard, Modern, Polished, Sandstone, Classic, and Obsidian. If using one of these themes, the theme is auto-upgraded to Contemporary Extended.
Chart Label Settings Maintained Chart Label Settings Maintained  

With this enhancement, when you select Show Labels in the options drop-down when viewing a chart for a custom report, the Show Labels setting will be remembered the next time you view or edit the report. Prior to this enhancement, the Show Labels setting had to be selected again when accessing the report.

In addition, the label setting is remembered when viewing the chart as a dashboard widget.

Contact Support & Case Status Tracker Contact Support & Case Status Tracker  

The Contact Support process is being redesigned within the Cornerstone Success Center to search and return relevant information while submitting a case. The redesigned process includes the ability for named admins to check the status of open cases through a new Status Tracker.

This enhancement is scheduled for 2017 Q2/Q3. Further information will be provided closer to its release.

Global Search API Global Search API Yes With this enhancement, the full functionality of Global Search can be utilized via a Search API, enabling users to search the catalog for people, training, certifications, and more, without logging into the Cornerstone system.
Planning - Clone Position Action Planning - Clone Position Action   With this enhancement, a Clone Multiple option is added to the Planning page. This option enables planners to quickly create multiple clones of the same position at one time. Each clone retains all of the attributes of the existing position.
Planning - Filtered View and Export Planning - Filtered View and Export   New filter options are added to the Planning page to enable planners to filter the view of the organization directly in the plan. The filters offer many different views of the plan, such as viewing only new positions or only new manager positions. Once the plan is filtered, the results of the filtered view can be exported to a .csv file.
Reporting API Edge Develop - Reporting API Yes With this enhancement, users are able to access the Real Time Data Warehouse (RTDW) using the Reporting API, which adheres to ODATA minimal compliance specifications.
Responsive Navigation Display Theme Enhancements Responsive Navigation Display Theme Enhancements   With this enhancement, the usability of the Responsive Navigation theme menu is improved to enable users to easily navigate through the system on a desktop, tablet, or mobile browser.
Universal Profile Bio Geolocation Service - Google Maps Universal Profile Bio Geolocation Service - Google Maps   With this enhancement, Google Maps is now Cornerstone's geolocation service, providing improved location accuracy. When Address (Map) is configured to be visible on the Universal Profile Bio page's Contact Info Panel and an address is entered on the User Record, users' addresses show a map serviced by Google Maps on the Universal Profile Bio page.
Universal Profile Navigation Tab Auto-Upgrade in August '17 Release Universal Profile Navigation Tab Auto-Upgrade in August '17 Release   In the August 2017 Release, the Universal Profile Navigation tabs will be moved from the left-side to the top for all Universal Profile pages to match the navigation tabs on the new User Record. A flyout will be added for My Team that opens to select from Manager or other employee relationship hierarchy.
User Record Auto-Upgrade User Record Auto-Upgrade   With the May '17 Release, all clients that have not self-activated the new User Record are automatically upgraded.
User Record Enhancements User Record Enhancements  

With this enhancement, the following enhancements have been made to the new User Record:

  • Administrators can take popular actions for another user from the new User Record page. This includes View Permissions, Employee Salary, Proxy as a User, Unlock Account, and Change Password.
  • A new floating action bar is now available when viewing or editing the new User Record page.
  • Encrypted short text box custom fields can now be used with the new User Record.
  • Administrators can now search, sort, filter, and include scheduled changes when viewing the Modification History page. This only applies to organizations that are using Advanced Auditing or Effective Dating.
  • When creating and editing users from the Manage Hired Applicants page, the system now directs administrators to the new Create and Edit User pages.
User Segment Field Migrated to User Type and Employment Status Field User Segment Field Migrated to User Type and Employment Status Field   With this release, the User Segment field on the User Record is being retired. Organizations that are using this field will have the values in this field migrated to the User Type field in the User Type and Employment Status section on the User Record. This provides additional options to categorize users, which can be configured on the User Preferences page.

Cornerstone HR

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
ADP Workforce Now Integration ADP Workforce Now Integration   With this enhancement, a new integration with ADP Workforce Now is now available in the Edge Integrate Marketplace.
Batch Edit User Record Batch Edit User Record   With this enhancement, administrators can batch edit user records via the new Org Chart functionality and via a new Batch Edit Users page.
Compensation Salary Management Fields Added to User as of Date Standard Report Compensation Salary Management Fields Added to User as of Date Standard Report   With this enhancement, organizations can now report on Employee Salary Management information within the User as of a Date report. This enables organizations to report on effective dated information across the user record and compensation in a single report.
Forms Module Added to Multi-Module Report Forms Module Added to Multi-Module Report   With this enhancement, Forms data is now available when creating a custom multi-module report. This enables organizations to compare Forms data with data from other modules. A Forms section is added to Custom Multi-Module Reports.
Data Load Wizard - Support Reason for Change Data Load Wizard - Support Reason for Change See Notes With this enhancement, organizations using Cornerstone HR and Reason for Change can now include a Reason for Change value when updating user data via the Data Load Wizard load and data feed.
Org Chart - Embedded Analytics Org Chart - Embedded Analytics   With the enhancement, you can now display up to three metrics for each user on the Org Chart page. In addition, each user card will now have a user details flyout. The flyout can be configured with up to 15 fields from across the application.
Organizational Unit Audit Standard Report Organizational Unit Audit Standard Report   With this enhancement, a new Organizational Unit (OU) Audit standard report is now available. This report enables organizations to report on changes made to common standard and custom OU fields for one or more standard OUs. The report output displays each time one of the selected fields was modified for the selected OUs within the selected date range.
Organizational Unit Custom Fields Auditing Organizational Unit Custom Fields Auditing   With this enhancement, expanded audit functionality is now available for custom organizational unit (OU) fields. This enables organizations to better track what changes are being made to OUs.
Sensitive Information Available in New User Record Sensitive Information Available in New User Record Yes With this enhancement, administrators with the appropriate permissions can view, add, or edit sensitive information on the new User Record page. Administrators with the appropriate permissions can view the information as masked or unmasked and edit the actual information after the SPII whitelisted IP addresses have been configured.
User Record Enhancements User Record Enhancements  

With this enhancement, the following enhancements have been made to the new User Record:

  • Administrators can take popular actions for another user from the new User Record page. This includes View Permissions, Employee Salary, Proxy as a User, Unlock Account, and Change Password.
  • A new floating action bar is now available when viewing or editing the new User Record page.
  • Encrypted short text box custom fields can now be used with the new User Record.
  • Administrators can now search, sort, filter, and include scheduled changes when viewing the Modification History page. This only applies to organizations that are using Advanced Auditing or Effective Dating.
  • When creating and editing users from the Manage Hired Applicants page, the system now directs administrators to the new Create and Edit User pages.

Edge Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Approvals API Approvals API Yes

With this enhancement, an Approvals API is added to the web service catalog, and this API enables users to view, approve, and deny requests on the user's Universal profile page. Using the Approvals API, users can review and manage approvals for offer letters, compensation plans, development plans, and more.

Assessment Integration - DDI Assessment Integration - DDI Yes The DDI integration enables recruiters to place and track assessment requests. This integration streamlines and improves recruiters' efficacy of their hiring process.
Assessment Integration - Shaker Assessment Integration - Shaker Yes The Shaker integration enables recruiters to place and track assessment requests. This integration streamlines and improves recruiters' efficacy of their hiring process.
Edge Integrate - Marketplace and Integration Center Enhancements Edge Integrate- Marketplace and Integration Center Enhancements No

With this enhancement, Edge features an improved user experience when searching for and filtering APIs in the Edge Marketplace and Edge Integrations, and documentation on existing APIs is exclusively contained within the API Explorer. Features included in this enhancement are:

  • Enhanced Edge Marketplace Search
  • Cornerstone API trial extension
  • Enhanced Integrations Search
  • Cornerstone API automatic emails
  • FAQ page (released in upcoming patch)
  • In-App Help
  • Key regeneration in Edge Integrate
Edge API Explorer Edge Develop - API Exporer No With this release, all REST API documentation is available only within the API Explorer in Edge Develop. The API Explorer enables developers and partners to easily learn and share ways to optimize the system by reading and contributing information regarding various CSOD applications. Documentation on Edge APIs is removed from Online Help and must be accessed exclusively via the Edge API Explorer.
Global Search API Global Search API Yes With this enhancement, the full functionality of Global Search can be utilized via a Search API, enabling users to search the catalog for people, training, certifications, and more, without logging into the Cornerstone system.
Reporting API Edge Develop - Reporting API Yes With this enhancement, users are able to access the Real Time Data Warehouse (RTDW) using the Reporting API, which adheres to ODATA minimal compliance specifications.

Learning Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Audit of Learning Object Fields Audit of Learning Object Fields No

With this enhancement, changes made to the following fields on the Course Catalog (General) page are tracked in the backend auditing table:

  • Available Languages
  • Credits
  • Deactivation Date
  • Exclude from Recommendations
  • Keywords
  • Mobile
  • Training Hours
Batch Edit Thumbnail Images Batch Edit Thumbnail Image via Course Catalog No With this enhancement, the thumbnail images for training can be batch edited via the Course Catalog.
Browse for Training Filter Visibility Browse for Training Filter Visibility No With this enhancement, Browse for Training Preferences has been updated so that the visibility and order of the Browse for Training filters now apply to both the landing page and the main page of Browse for Training.
Browse for Training Preferences - Replace Filter Descriptions Browse for Training Preferences - Replace "Learning Object" with "Training" in Filter Descriptions No

With this enhancement, instances of the phrase "Learning Object" are replaced by the word, "Training," to help clarify the purposes of each filter type.

B2B Subscriptions - Full Rollout B2B Subscriptions - Full Rollout Yes B2B Subscription-based learning allows administrators to package training within a subscription. Organizations that provide training to external clients can create subscriptions that include training items that would be beneficial or necessary to complete. The subscription is created with an expiration date, upon which time users can either renew the subscription or purchase training as needed.
Content Uploader Beta (Redesign of Course Publisher, Stage Only) Content Uploader Beta (Redesign of Course Publisher, Stage Only) No With this beta, Stage-only enhancement, administrators can easily upload and mange online courses using the beta Content Uploader, which combines aspects of the existing Course Publisher functionality with Course Catalog functionality, facilitating a more intuitive and cohesive approach to creating and publishing content.
Course Catalog and Course Console Updates for Content Uploader Beta Course Catalog & Course Console Updates to Support Content Uploader Beta (Stage Only) No To supplement the Content Uploader beta enhancement, some features are added to Course Catalog and Course Console, ONLY in Stage environments. These added features are only available for draft online courses in Stage portals.
Course Console Inline Editing In-Line Edit on Course Console No With this enhancement, the Course Console includes more training fields, and many fields are now editable via an in-line pop-up on the Course Console. With the correct permission, editable text fields are clickable and can be edited directly from the page.
Course Recommendations on Browse for Training Course Recommendations on Browse for Training No With this enhancement, the Browse for Training page includes a section called “Top Picks for [User],” which will display personalized course recommendations based on the individual user's training history.
Custom Reports - Reports and Learning Fields Custom Reports - Reports & Learning Fields No With this enhancement, a Learning Assignment report type is available, and new learning fields are added to several report types.
Email Digest Enhancements Email Digest Enhancements No With this enhancement, email digests respect the No Emails setting both when selected at the LO level in the Course Catalog and when configured in a learning assignment.
ILT Geolocation Enhancements ILT Geolocation Enhancements (Ongoing Invite-Only Preview) No With this enhancement, users can view the address of each session from the Training Details page of the associated event and experience increased accuracy of session locations with Google Maps, allowing them to quickly ascertain the exact location of training. This enhancement is only available for portals participating in the ILT - Geolocation preview program.
Learning Assignment Tool Auto Upgrade Learning Assignment Tool Auto-Upgrade No With the May '17 release, all pilot and production portals are automatically upgraded to the Learning Assignment Tool, and Proxy Enrollment functionality is deactivated in all portals and no longer accessible, with the exception of Certification and Volunteer Event proxy enrollments.
Learning Assignment Tool Enhancements Learning Assignment Tool Enhancements No With this enhancement, additional features are available in the Learning Assignment Tool, and some features have been redesigned to increase efficiency of the learning assignment creation process.
Mark Transcript Exempt Permission Enhancements "Mark Transcript Exempt" Permission Enhancements No With this enhancement, the permission that allows administrators to exempt users from a learning object (LO) has been updated to also apply to prerequisites, pre-work, and post-work.
Material Versioning - Ability to Copy Supplementary Objects Material Versioning - Ability to copy pre-work, post-work, evaluations, and acknowledgements No With this enhancement, when a material is reversioned, any pre-work, post-work, acknowledgments, or evaluations associated with the original version are automatically copied to the new version.
Material Versioning - Additional Due Date Options Material Versioning - Additional Due Date Options No

With this enhancement, when reversioning a material, administrators have four due date options for the new material version:

  • No Due Date
  • Fixed Date
  • Relative Due Date
  • Apply Previous Version Due Date
Material Versioning - Additional Statuses Material Versioning - Additional Statuses No With this enhancement, during the material reversioning process, administrators can push the new material version to many more additional statuses which are now equivalent to Not Started and In Progress.
Material Versioning - Appended Assignments Material Versioning - Appended Assignments No

With this enhancement, when administrators create dynamic learning assignments, the assigned users will:

  • Receive the latest material version when the material version from learning assignment expires and become inactive
  • Receive two appended versions, when available, when they enter the availability of the learning assignment
  • See appended versions removed when Dynamic Removal is enabled for the assignment.
  • Receive the correct version when reassigned the material via a learning assignment (for example, when they re-enter the availability after having been removed from the availability)
Material Versioning - Dynamic Recurring Learning Assignments Material Versioning - Dynamic Recurring Learning Assignments No

With this enhancement, during the material reversioning process, administrators are able to:

  • Select both dynamic AND dynamic recurring learning assignments when pushing a new material version to users who were assigned the original material via a learning assignment.
  • Filter dynamic assignments by dynamic and dynamic recurring, if needed.
  • Use an updated material versioning user interface with updated Learning Assignment Tool wording.
Curriculum Offline Mobile - Curriculum Offline No With this enhancement, users can download courses that are within a curriculum in order to complete them offline. The courses must be configured to be available offline. Once the users are back online, they can sync their course progress with the system.
New User Photo Tag in Custom Certificates New "User Photo" Tag in Custom Certificates No With this enhancement, tags which allow users' profile photos to be added to custom certificates are available in a variety of sizes.
Rename "View Course Mobile Field" Permission Rename "View Course Mobile Field" Permission No With this enhancement, the View Course Mobile Field permission is renamed to Training Mobile - Manage, and the functionality of the permission is updated to grant the ability to configure the Mobile setting on the Course Console page.
Update Filters on Course Catalog Update Filters on Course Catalog No With this enhancement, the filters available on the Course Catalog are modified to facilitate improved searching capabilities.

Mobile Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Curriculum Offline Curriculum Offline   With this enhancement, users can download courses that are within a curriculum in order to complete them offline. The courses must be configured to be available offline. Once the users are back online, they can sync their course progress with the system.
Search Enhancements Search Enhancements   With this enhancement, the mobile application respects both Search Preferences and the user's permissions. Also, the Search page now includes an "All" tab, which enables users to search for only people, only training, or both people and training. In addition, a Search bar is added to the Dashboard page so that users can find content more quickly.
Testing App and Retirement of /m Support Testing App and Retirement of /m Support Yes

With the May 2017 release, Cornerstone is retiring the /m solution, which enabled organizations to test the Cornerstone mobile app by accessing an "app-like" version of their portals through a mobile browser. By retiring this solution, Cornerstone can focus more resources on improving the Cornerstone mobile application.

Organizations that want to access their portals on mobile devices can either download the Cornerstone mobile application or access the full portal via a mobile browser.

Organizations that want to participate in testing may join Cornerstone's group of external testers using Hockeyapp for Android devices and Testflight for iOS devices.

Update Temporary Password Update Temporary Password   With this enhancement, users are now able to update their temporary password from the mobile application and access the system via the mobile app even if they have not yet accessed the system from a browser.

Performance Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Goal Weight Calculation Consistency Goal Weight Calculation Consistency   With this enhancement, an individual's total goal weight is calculated consistently on the Team Goals page and the My Goals page by exclusively summing individual goals. On both pages, the user's overall goal weight is calculated by adding the weights of the user's individual goals and excluding any Division goals.
Observation Checklist: Overwrite Validation Dates Options Observation Checklist: Overwrite Validation Dates Options   With this enhancement, administrators can now configure an observation checklist so that the competency validation dates are locked once the checklist is completed.
User Record Data Deletion via Anonymization (Beta) - Goals   See Notes With this enhancement, when a data deletion request is made based on time, the goal due date is used to determine when the data is deleted or anonymized. If the goal does not have a due date, then the goal creation date is used.
View Attachments from Snapshot Reviews Page View Attachments from Snapshot Reviews Page   With this enhancement, if a user is able to view a review from the Reviews Snapshot page, then the user can view and download any attachments that are associated with the review. This enables users to always have the full context of a performance review.

Recruiting Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Applicant Profile UI Redesign Applicant Profile UI Redesign   With this enhancement, the user interface (UI) of the Applicant Profile page is redesigned to match current styles. This includes updates to the look and feel of each tab on the page.
Assessment Integration - DDI Assessment Integration - DDI   The DDI integration enables recruiters to place and track assessment requests. This integration streamlines and improves recruiters' efficacy of their hiring process.
Assessment Integration - Shaker Assessment Integration - Shaker   The Shaker integration enables recruiters to place and track assessment requests. This integration streamlines and improves recruiters' efficacy of their hiring process.
Conditional and Optional Assessments Conditional and Optional Assessments   With this enhancement, assessments can now be configured as conditional and optional in the application workflow.
Custom Reports - Forms Module Added to Multi-Module Report Custom Reports - Forms Module Added to Multi-Module Report   With this enhancement, Forms data is now available when creating a custom multi-module report. This enables organizations to compare Forms data with data from other modules. A Forms section is added to Custom Multi-Module Reports.
Custom Reports - Recruiting Fields Custom Reports - Recruiting Fields   With this enhancement, updates are made to recruiting fields for Recruiting Custom Reports and Multi-Module Custom Reports. In addition, an Onboarding custom report field is renamed.
Data Deletion to Support Data Privacy (Invite-Only Beta) Data Deletion to Support Data Privacy (Invite-Only Beta)   The Data Deletion project ensures that user application data is not kept in the system longer than the defined amount of time set by the data retention period.
Recruiting Geolocation Enhancements Recruiting Geolocation Enhancements  

With this enhancement, the MapQuest geolocation services are changed to Google Maps in all areas of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that require the mapping of locations. This change will provide a more accurate geolocation service.

In addition, the Postal Code field on the Candidate Search Query page will now always be visible. Both the Quick Search and Advanced Search tabs will always display the field.

New Submissions on Hiring Dashboard New Submissions on Hiring Dashboard  

The following updates are made with this enhancement:

  • Quick Access to New Submissions - The linked number of new submissions in the Applicants widget of the Hiring Dashboard now opens the New Submissions page instead of the Manage Requisitions page.
  • Access All of Your Requisitions from New Submissions Page - A drop-down is added to the New Submissions page to provide quick access to all of your requisitions. You can click a requisition and quickly view and process all new submissions for that job.
Offer Letter by Location Organizational Unit Offer Letter by Location Organizational Unit   With this enhancement, Offer Letter Preferences are now configured by Location Organizational Unit (OU).
Onboarding Module Added to Multi-Module Report Custom Reports - Onboarding Module Added to Multi-Module Report   With this enhancement, an Onboarding section is added to Custom Multi-Module Reports.
Pre-Screening Date Questions Pre-Screening Date Questions   With this enhancement, you can now configure pre-screening questions based on date responses. A new Date option is added to the select field type step when configuring pre-screening questions. Date questions can be beneficial when you would like to screen applicants according to the date response in a pre-screening question.
Requisition UI Redesign Requisition UI Redesign   With this enhancement, the process for configuring requisitions and requisition templates is redesigned to improve the look, feel, and functionality of the process. In addition, the user interface (UI) design is updated to match the look and feel of the system.
Start Onboarding UI Redesign Start Onboarding UI Redesign   The redesigned Start Onboarding user interface (UI) will enhance the launch onboarding experience for users who start the onboarding process for new hires. It will be easier to select the correct onboarding workflow and ensure that onboarding tasks are assigned to an intended user. On each new hire's onboarding details, you will also be able to view all future organizational units (OU) and employee relationships that are configured for the new hire.

Succession Features

Feature Name from Release Notes Feature Name from Release Summary Contact to Enable? Description
Career Center Job Search Enhancements Career Center Job Search Enhancements  

With this enhancement, when exploring open jobs within the Career Center, the following functionality is now available:

  • Internal applicants now have the option to include subordinate Division and Location organizational units (OUs) in their search criteria. This makes it much easier for a user to search for jobs in the division or location of their interest.
  • Internal applicants now have the option to search for jobs using Requisition custom fields. Administrators must add the requisition custom fields as Career Center search fields within Career Center Preferences. Note: This functionality will be released with the May 19 post-release patch.
Custom Reports - Succession Sections Custom Reports - Succession Sections  

With this enhancement, the following changes have been made to custom succession reports:

  • The Succession Planning & Metrics section is separated into the following sections: Succession Task, User Succession Metrics, Successor Fields, and Successor Succession Fields. These sections are available within a Succession or Multi-Module custom report.
  • When creating a Succession custom report, the Career Preferences section is renamed to User Career Preferences, and the Succession Metrics & Planning section is renamed to User Succession Metrics.
  • An OU Custom Fields section is added to Job Pool Succession custom reports. This enables organizations to include organizational unit (OU) custom fields in the Job Pool Succession report and filter the report by OU custom field.
Org Chart - Embedded Analytics Org Chart - Embedded Analytics   With the enhancement, you can now display up to three metrics for each user on the Org Chart page. In addition, each user card will now have a user details flyout. The flyout can be configured with up to 15 fields from across the application.
Position ID Added to Successor Details by Successor Report Position ID Added to Successor Details by Successor Report   With this enhancement, the output of the Successor Details by Successor standard report now displays Successor Position ID and Incumbent Position ID fields. This enables administrators to easily reference the unique ID values for positions.
Succession Task Redesign Succession Task Redesign   With this enhancement, the user experience of completing a succession task is enhanced with an improved look and feel and a streamlined task flow. This enables succession task assessors to follow clear and intuitive steps to review their talent and build a robust succession plan for key employees and positions. In addition, the redesigned succession task functionality is more responsive so that it can be completed on smaller devices, such as a tablet. This enhancement applies to all task types, including Succession Management Planning (SMP) Manager tasks, SMP Assessor tasks, Job Pool Succession tasks, and Talent Conference tasks.