ONE WHOLE COLLEAGUE

A new assignment is fully staffed, in aggregate.

Resource Planning has filled a five-day role using spare capacity from five colleagues. Each brings a day, and between them they have all the required skills. The allocation avoids both an external hire and leaving small amounts of internal capacity unused.

The colleagues will work on successive days. Monday’s specialist will establish the approach; Tuesday’s will develop it. Both are experienced and would welcome a handover. Monday’s specialist is committed elsewhere on Tuesday. Tuesday’s is committed elsewhere on Monday.

The team has proposed written notes. Each day now begins with reading and ends with preparation for the next colleague. The client will receive a useful record of the work, including several questions whose author will next be available after the person answering them has left.

There is no dispute about responsibility. Monday’s specialist is the lead and remains accountable throughout the week. Her allocation has been increased to accommodate questions, reducing the time she can spend on Monday’s work. The role is now over-resourced but requires some additional capacity.

The client has asked whether it could pay slightly more to have two of the people at once. Resource Planning is checking whether this would count as a second role.