Assignment report - driver-based configuration

Driver selection

The first step of a driver assignment is the driver selection. To each selected dimension element, you can assign one or multiple drivers from the list of created drivers.

Additionally, you can create a new driver during the assignment process if a required driver is missing. And, after the new driver is created, it can be assigned to the selected dimension element.

Driver option selection

The second step is the selection of the driver option that is used in FTE calculations. The option that you select is applied to all selected drivers.

With Workforce Planning, you can write data on consolidated elements. You can create a high-level configuration on a consolidated element instead of performing a configuration for each base element.

Alternatively, you can create a detailed configuration on all base elements and on the consolidated element. The configuration on the consolidated element represents configuration for employees who are directly assigned to that consolidated element, such as directors or managers.

You can also upload driver values for these consolidated elements. To better illustrate the five different driver value options, an example using a small organization is provided. The driver values on consolidated elements are aggregated. If driver values are uploaded directly to the consolidated element, its aggregated value is greater than the sum of its base elements. The values that are assigned directly to the consolidated element are referred to as dedicated values. These driver values apply to employees who are directly assigned to the consolidated element.

You can select one of these options: Detail, Detail Element, Parent, Aggregated Parent Data, and Total.

Driver options

When you add one or more drivers to the assignment report, you must select a driver option for each required dimension. This option determines what types of driver values are used for calculating the FTEs.

You can select from these options:

• Detail

  The driver value that is assigned directly to the selected element is used. For a base element, the driver value for that base element is used. For a consolidated element, the driver value that is dedicated to that consolidated element is used.

  The main advantage of the Detail option is that you can use one configuration for a whole organization or its branch. The configuration is used for all its elements, provided that the driver values for these elements were uploaded.

  You can use this option for indirect labor when it is essential that all organizations use the same driver-based configuration for their FTE calculations. With the Detail option, you can, for example, create a configuration that acts as a benchmark.

  The Detail option can be also used for direct labor. For example, you can use this option if the calculated time effort for the estimated demand is different for different departments of the selected organization. Use the Detail option to ensure that calculations for different departments use only the calculated time effort that is dedicated to each department.

  You can use the Detail option to create a configuration on a consolidated element and use that configuration to calculate FTEs for its child elements. For example, you can create an assignment configuration on the All Organization level. If you select the Detail option, the driver-based configuration is propagated to all organization elements underneath the total element. The calculations are provided for all elements for which driver values were uploaded. In this example, calculations are provided for base elements, Line 501 and Line 502, and for two consolidated elements, All Organization and Production. The calculations are provided for these consolidated elements because they have the value of 50 dedicated directly to them.

• Detail Element

  The driver value that is assigned directly to the selected element is used. For a base element, the driver value for that base element is used. For a consolidated element, the driver value that is dedicated to that consolidated element is used. But for the Detail Element option, the configuration is neither propagated nor applied to any elements under the configuration level. Instead, the configuration is applied only to the selected dimension element.

  With this option, you can create a configuration and calculate FTEs for overhead labor that is assigned directly to the selected consolidated element. For example, you can use it for configuration of a consolidated element that represents directors or the administrative team.

• Parent

  The aggregated driver value of the first consolidated element that contains any driver value is used.

  For example, you can use the Parent option when a configuration is done for an organization such as Support which handles IT tickets from all departments belonging to the parent organization.

  Similarly, if a department handles quality assurance for multiple departments, use the Parent option for the corresponding configuration. For example, if Line 502 provides quality assurance for both production lines, you can use the Parent option when configuring Line 502. If you configure the Line 502 element and select the Parent option, the first consolidated element that has any value is Production. The corresponding value is 350.

  Note: If there are no driver values for the consolidated element, the parent element that is one level above is checked. If this element contains any driver values, the value of that consolidated element is used for FTE calculations. If not, a consolidated element at a higher level is checked, until a consolidated element that contains a value is found.
• Aggregated Parent Data

  The aggregated driver value of the first consolidated element is used. If the consolidated element does not contain any driver values, no FTE calculation can be performed for this configuration.

  If, for example, you configure the Production element and select the Aggregated Parent Data option, the first consolidated element that has any value is Production. The corresponding aggregated value is 350.

• Total

  This is the total aggregated driver value for the dimension. You can select this option when you want to use the total value, such as the total revenue for all organizations.

  In this example, the driver value is 400. This value represents the sum of all elements underneath the All Organization element and the value that is assigned directly to the All Organization level.