Comprehensive and Detailed 150 to 250 words of Explanation From Workday Record-to-Report/Course Guide/topics:
A pro-rata allocation using statistical values is the appropriate configuration because square footage represents a measurable consumption driver. In Workday, the source component identifies the shared-service cost pool, while the basis determines how that pool is distributed. A statistical definition should store square-footage values by the applicable allocation dimension, such as cost center or business unit. Workday calculates each dimension's proportion of total square footage and applies that percentage to the source amount.
Square footage is normally configured as a balance-type statistic because it remains relatively stable and represents a period-end quantity. The target configuration then determines the ledger account and worktags receiving the allocated expense, while the offset relieves the originating shared-service cost center.
Spread Even would allocate identical amounts without considering actual space usage. Manual self-reporting would weaken control and repeatability, and waiting until fiscal year-end is unnecessary because allocation group sets support monthly, quarterly, or annual processing. The pro-rata method therefore produces a systematic, auditable allocation based on the organization's documented cost driver.
Official Workday reference: Workday Education - Allocations ; topics: Allocation Definition: Basis, Pro-Rata, Statistical Values, and Allocation Processing.
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