Identifying Part Time Roles Using the Role & Team Structure Model

Using the Role & Team Structure model

Many employers spend hours contemplating what roles within their organisation could be offered part-time. At times a manager may consider it to be too much time too! In our management mentorship programme at MIB Business Solutions I have heard many a manager claim that it is all too difficult to identify part time roles and it was easier to simply not have such roles.

From these repeated views and a range of other human resources concerns I developed the 'Role & Team Structure model' (RTS model) which can be used for identifying potential part-time roles. I will discuss it from both a large organisation and small to medium enterprise perspective today.

As can be seen in the RTS model we have two axes. The 'x' axis has a scale of the skills mix within a team and the 'y' axis has they team focus. When ranking positions against each of these axis I find it easier to rank a position from -10 to +10 based on the following indicators.

Skills Mix
-10 Team members have identical skills
0 Team members have many overlapping skills
+10 Team members have vastly different skills from each other

Team Focus
-10 Tasks or projects are completed by the individual
0 Tasks or projects are completed in pairs or triplets
+10 Tasks or projects are completed utilising all team members

Mapping for the Large Enterprise

In a large enterprise the roles that fall within the shaded areas indicate positions that have the potential to be offered part-time. Those roles falling within the red shaded area are consistently good to be offered to someone part-time basis and those within the blue shaded area are suitable for staff who display excellent communication and documentation skills (towards the 'project' quadrant) and those who are skilled and proficient in the skills required for their role (towards the 'support' quadrant).

Mapping for the Small to Medium Enterprise

If you are a small to medium business owner you can relish in the fact that you have more opportunities to employ staff on a part-time basis with excellent corporate outcomes. This can be attributed primarily to having a flatter organisational structure which allows a greater ability to negotiate working conditions openly and honestly as the requirements of your enterprise and staff member change over time.

The RTS model was developed for large organisations so when mapping small business roles you will need to ask yourself, "Where would this position fit in an organisation of about 100 employees?" For the small to medium enterprise part-time staff are are an excellent way to staff who are skilled for the task that fall in the blue shaded area. However, you also have the potential to attract staff with the potential to make a significant creative and/or practical contribution to your enterprise's strategic vision, growth and repeated renewal as well as their ability to take small and distracting projects off your hands.

Part-time Roles - Easy!

Part time employees can add great value to most organisations when roles are correctly identified and established. It is my hope that the RTS model will assist you in identifying roles so you can focus on establishing part-time positions and finding a person who is the right fit or your enterprise.