Glenn

Thanks for stopping by. That’s a good question.

Jaques’ RO model to include time span applies within managerial hierarchies. It will not be as useful in your situation where you are hiring freelancers and independent consultants for a single project.

Time span of discretion will provide you with the work level of a ROLE within a hierarchy. You cannot use time span of discretion on a single TASK.

For example, a client might hire me to come for one day to lead their line managers through a talent pool evaluation to assess their benchstrength. Even with the after-the-event data input, analysis, and report writing, this ends up being only a one month project. Using the time span model (inappropriately), that would mean that someone currently capable at level one could do the work. This is simply untrue.

In the book Requisite Organization, Jaques did tinker with trying to determine work levels embedded in single projects by describing work levels, see page pair 72.

But whereas time span is a scientifically validated way of measuring the complexity of a role, here is what Jaques has to say about trying to determine task complexity. “This procedure is a subjective descriptive process. I do not know of any way, as of yet, to measure objectively the complexity of a task or program. Work with colleagues has been proceeding explicitly for over 10 years now to solve this problem, but no solution is as yet in sight. It will be a very big step forward if and when we do succeed.” (1998)

Sorry I couldn’t be more help on this one.

Michelle

You hear a lot of griping about the above-the-line/below-the-line pay differential on most sets.

However, some producers work on a project for years, seeing it from inception to promotion, while other employees work only during what we call production, a span of about 3 months or so.

Other high earners do not work as long and still make a great deal more money, and these are the positions I have trouble figuring out.

Obviously, the person in charge of photography (the DP) has to have a larger vision than the person safely rigging a light at the DP’s direction. But, the DP may only be on this job few weeks longer than the person who rigs the lights, yet could make 5x more money.

I’m still trying to figure out how my business fits this model because it is project oriented, and more challenging to measure using time span.

Have you addressed this concept in other project oriented businesses? Is there an aspect of this conversion that relates to experience?

Welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, there’s no way around needing to pay employees fairly if you want engagement.

Regards,

Michelle