VSME Module – Roles & Permissions Guide

Modified on Fri, 6 Feb at 11:21 AM

The VSME module supports companies in the structured collection and reporting of sustainability-related information in line with the requirements of the Voluntary reporting standard for SMEs (VSME). To ensure clear responsibilities and efficient workflows, the module offers several user roles – VSME Module Manager, VSME Entity Manager, VSME Entity Approver, and VSME Reporter. Each role comes with specific permissions and responsibilities designed to ensure the quality, traceability, and consistency of the data. The following overview outlines how each role is integrated into the reporting process and which functionalities are available to them.

VSME Module Manager	The VSME Module Manager holds the highest level of permissions within the module — regardless of entities. They can manage all reports, assessments, and settings, and assign users. However, intervening in the aggregation or approval of data is only possible if they are also assigned the corresponding entity-level roles (e.g., VSME Entity Manager or VSME Entity Approver).
VSME Entity Manager	The VSME Entity Manager has access to reports that include the entities assigned to them and can enter data, submit requests, and manage the data collection process within those reports. They are also responsible for managing users for these entities and their subordinate entities.
VSME Entity Approver	The VSME Entity Approver is responsible for approving data. They can view reports for the entities assigned to them, approve data entries, or reopen the data collection process. Active participation in data entry or user management is only possible if they are also assigned additional roles.
VSME Reporter	The VSME Reporter is responsible for processing and assessing the disclosures assigned to them. They can view the report, complete data points, and submit requests. Access to other reports or disclosures, as well as user management, is not part of their permissions.

In the following, you will find a detailed overview of the roles and their respective permissions within the VSME module. The breakdown outlines which actions are available to each user type and where their limitations lie. This transparency helps clarify who is responsible for which tasks within the module. The overview supports a better understanding of responsibilities, enables clear role assignments, and promotes efficient teamwork.

VSME Module Manager:

Module / Page	User can	User can't
Reporting Structure	• List all entities • Manage all entities • View user assignments for VSME modules for all entities • Manage user assignments for VSME modules for all entities • Each position for VSME modules for all entities is assigned	• View user assignments for other modules • Be assigned to a position for other modules
Requests	• List all requests for the VSME module • List and access your sent and received requests Complete all data points Send a response Reject the request Forward the entire request to another user Request data for any data point from another user View all responded data points Cancel the request Accept the response Request data correction for the response • Access all non-your requests for the VSME module • View all data points with responses	• List and access requests from other modules
VSME module	• Access to the Red Thread • Access to Analytics Manage Targets • Access to Reporting List, manage, and access all reports Step 1: List all disclosure requirements, include and exclude them in the report scope Provide justification for excluding disclosure requirements Manage company-specific disclosure requirements Mark step as complete Step 2: Assign disclosure requirements to users Data collection method Determine Set up aggregation Store data point details Mark step as complete Step 3: Manually enter data for data points outside the aggregation and mark it as complete Request data for data points outside the aggregation View data for all companies in the aggregation Complete, request, and mark data points in the aggregation as complete for companies to which the user is assigned as the VSME unit manager Submit data for all companies to which the user is assigned as the VSME unit manager Request approval for all entities to which the user is assigned as the VSME unit manager Reopen data collection for all entities to which the user is assigned as the VSME unit manager or that are subordinate to an entity to which they are assigned as the VSME unit manager Approve data for all entities to which the user is assigned as an approver List all disclosure requirements in step 3, change final entries, and mark it as complete Mark step as complete Step 4: Write reporting paragraphs for all disclosure requirements Export report • Consolidate reports • Access settings Manage Sustainability Profile	• Change, submit, or reopen data collection for an entity in the aggregation unless they are listed as the entity manager for VSME for that entity • Approve data for an entity in the aggregation unless they are listed as the VSME approver for that entity

VSME module managers can only populate data in the aggregation of specific units if they are also assigned to that unit as a manager for VSME.

The assignment of disclosure requirements in step 2 is only possible for users with the roles Admin, Module Manager or Reporter.

Besides Admins, only VSME Module Manager can complete and reopen Steps in the workflow.

VSME Entity Manager:

Module / Page	User can	User can't
Reporting Structure	• List all entities and view user assignments for the VSME module to which the user is assigned, as well as their predecessors and successors • Manage user assignments for the VSME module for all entities to which the user is assigned as a report manager, as well as their successors • Be assigned to the unit manager position in the VSME module for each entity	• View entities to which they are not assigned, unless they are predecessors or successors of those entities • View user assignments for other modules and be assigned to any position • Be assigned to the Approver position for the VSME module
Requests	• List and access your sent and received requests • Access all your received requests Complete all data points Send a response Reject the request Forward the entire request to another user Request data for any data point from another user • Access all your sent requests View all responded data points Cancel the request Accept the response Request data correction for the response	• List or access not own requests
VSME module	• Access reports List reports containing the entities to which the user is assigned as the unit manager in the aggregation Fill out data points in the aggregation for entities to which the user is assigned as the unit manager, request data for data points, mark data points as complete, submit data, and request approval for entities Reopen data collection for entities to which the user is assigned as the unit manager or that are a child entity	• Access to the Launchpad • Access to Analytics •List reports that do not contain an entity to which the user is assigned as the Entity Manager • Manage reports • Access to Step 1 and Step 3 of the reports • Access data points that are part of a manual data collection in Step 2 • View entities in the aggregation to which the user is not assigned, unless they are predecessors or successors of those entities • Mark the aggregation as complete in Step 2 • Modify or submit entity data in the aggregation unless the Entity Manager position for VSME is assigned for that entity • Reopen data collection for an entity in the aggregation unless the Entity Manager position for VSME is assigned for that entity or its parent entity • Approve data for an entity in the aggregation • Consolidate reports • Access to Settings and Sustainability Profile

Make sure to assign your entity manager to their correct entity in the organizational structure before you start. They will only get the right permissions for their entity after this step.

Entity Manager can only see the reports, their entity is assigned to.

VSME Entity Approver:

Module / Page	User can	User can't
Reporting Structure	• List all entities to which the user is assigned, as well as their predecessors and successors • Display user assignments for the VSME module for entities to which the user is assigned as an approver, as well as their predecessors and successors • Be assigned to an approver position in the VSME module for each entity	• View entities to which they are not assigned, unless they are predecessors or successors of those entities • View user assignments for other modules • Manage any entity • Manage user assignments • Be assigned to any position for other modules • Be assigned to the position of unit manager for the VSME module
Requests	• List your sent and received request • Access all your received requests Complete all data points Send a response Reject the request Forward the entire request to another user Request data for any data point from another user • Access all your sent requests View all answered data points Cancel the request Accept the response Request data correction for the response	• List or access not own requests
VSME module	• Access reports List reports containing the entities to which the user is assigned as an approver of an aggregation Access these reports Approve data for each entity in the aggregation to which the user is assigned as an approver Reopen data capture for an entity in the aggregation to which the user is assigned as an approver	• Access to the Launchpad • Access to Analytics • List reports that do not contain an entity to which the user is assigned as a sharer • Manage reports • Access to Step 1 and Step 3 of reports • Access to data points that are part of a manual data collection in Step 2 • View entities in the aggregation to which the user is not assigned, unless they are predecessors or successors of those entities • Mark the aggregation as complete in Step 2 • Modify or transfer entity data in the aggregation • Request approval for an entity • Reopen data collection for an entity if the user is not assigned as a sharer • Approve data for an entity in the aggregation if the user is not assigned as a sharer • Consolidate reports • Access to Settings and Sustainability Profile

VSME Reporter;

Module / Page	User can	User can't
Reporting Structure		• Access to the organizational structure • Assignment to any position for any module of any entity
Requests	• List your sent and received requests • Access all your received requests Complete all data points Send a response Reject the request Forward the entire request to another user Request data for any data point from another user • Access all your sent requests View all answered data points Cancel the request Accept the response Request data correction for the response	• List or access not own requests
VSME module	• Access to reports List of reports containing a disclosure assigned to the user Assignment to a disclosure in Step 2 Access to all these reports Step 2: List of the disclosure assigned to the user Send requests for data points of the disclosures assigned to the user Step 3: List of the disclosures assigned to the user Enter data that is part of a manual data entry assigned to the user Update the final disclosures for the disclosures assigned to the user Step 4: Write reporting paragraphs, that they are assigned to	• Access to the Launchpad • Access to Analytics • Manage reports in Reporting • List reports in Reporting that do not contain information to which the user is assigned • Access to Step 1 of Reports • Access to Aggregation in Step 2 of Reports • List information to which the user is not assigned in Steps 2 and 3 of Reports • Export reports in Step 4 • Consolidate reports • Access to Settings and Sustainability Profile

Note: In addition to these roles, the VSME module also includes entity-specific positions that are assigned in the organizational structure under "VSME User Assignments." The positions "Unit Manager" and "Approver" can be assigned to users for individual units. Certain permissions only apply if a user not only has the corresponding role but also holds the corresponding position in the unit in which the corresponding action is to be performed. Therefore, it is important to carefully assign the corresponding positions in the organizational structure in addition to correctly assigning roles.