Staffing Models Basics
Understand what a staffing model can do for your business
Staffing models are reports, charts and graphs used to understand how employee time is spent and at what cost. They provide management with a broad view of employees' work activities, as well as a more in-depth look at work activity time and cost per employee. Staffing models can work for any industry or business and break out into two structures: centralized models, where management exercises control over model functions including strategy, resources, budget and process; and decentralized, where recruiting strategies are tailored to local circumstances and managed locally.Staffing plans are similar in format to staffing models. They are more of a forecasting tool that predicts what time will be needed when employers come across different scenarios, such as changes to product volumes or production output. It's common for companies to use both terms interchangeably.
When considering staffing model solutions for your business, ask yourself the following questions:
1. How can a business plan for staffing help my operation?
2. How would my company go about creating a staffing plan?
3. Once a staffing plan model has been chosen, what resources are available to help me implement the model to my business?
Get to know what a business staffing plan can do for your company
Staffing models basics first includes knowing how a particular staffing plan can help a company. There are many staffing models and plans and finding or designing one that meets your particular need is key. Plans can calculate how much time each job position spends on an activity; list out staffing time and cost for every process, product and customer segment; help determine whether you have the right balance of HR staff; and helps your company predict future staffing needs by the hours of skills you'll need.
Try: Taleo defines centralized and decentralized business staffing models and lists out key factors a staffing model must address, no matter the structure or industry. Orient Point Consulting provides insight to businesses on why they would need a staffing business plan as well as services that can help your company. View a staffing model webinar for more information.
Review a number of factors and staffing plan examples
Companies must tailor a staffing model to meet their specific industry need, otherwise it won't track and forecast correctly. A staffing plan for an IT business tracks and reports different factors than a business that's main goal is to increase revenue through sales of a product or service, or a manufacturing company that relies on product output.
Try: Read "A Buyer's Guide to Staffing Models," by McDonald Consulting Group, for a general overview of factors basic staffing plans must cover. Review an article by Microsoft that provides insight on how to choose a IT staffing model right for your tech business. In addition, review tips and tools that can help develop your IT staffing model. Sourcingmag.com identifies the types of staffing solutions any staffing model can use, no matter the products or services you provide.
Find resources on implementing your staffing model
Once you've decided a staffing plan is needed, it's important to have the right resources at your fingertips for easy reference, along with the necessary tools or services to support the plan.
Try: Bechet Consulting offers a variety of resources on workforce planning as well as a book, Strategic Staffing: A Practical Toolkit for Workforce Planning. One of Citisoft's core services is implementing a flexible staffing model for your business--whether you have one already in place that just needs updating or you're starting from scratch. Use KnowledgeStorm's online search tool and get detailed reports to assist you in finding the right software, hardware, service or reseller needed to implement your plan.
- A staffing model or plan works only if it's reviewed periodically. Evaluate your staffing model at least once a year and adjust it to your current staffing needs.
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