Classification Variables
Positions are classified by their duties, tasks, and responsibilities.
Major Classification Variables
Each of the following factors are considered when comparing positions and the relative weighting of the position will vary depending upon the work performed. Classification differs significantly from compensation variables as the categorization relates to the requirements of a position and is separate of the persons who may eventually perform the duties of the position.
- Scope
- Complexity
- Accountability
- Autonomy
- Impact
General - All Positions
Size, Scope, & Complexity
- Nature & type of duties
- Scope of responsibilities
- University-wide or unit level duties
- Department function, activities, programs/services
- Special/unique assignments
- Collateral duty responsibilities
- Internal and/or external responsibilities
- Facility responsibility (e. g. building, campus, center, etc.)
- Major equipment
- Peer positions
- Customers and stakeholders
Preparation Required
- Education, Certifications, Licensure
- Training
- Experience required for minimum proficiency
- Technical vs. general skills
Accountability & Authority
- Independence/autonomy
- Judgement
- Responsibility
- Results
- Impact of decisions/actions
Business Needs
- Uniqueness to W&M
- Mission critical or essential
- Business/Operational Imperative
- Compelling business need
Recruitment Market
- National, Regional, Local talent pool
- Portability of skills
Other
- Strategic vs. support responsibility
- History of the position
- Working Conditions
- Project Management
Administrative & Managerial Variables
- Governance responsibility
- Signature authority
- Delegated authority
- Policy responsibility
- Span of Control – number of units, functions under purview
- Budget responsibility
- Reporting relationships
- To whom position reports
- Number of direct reports
- Type & level of Direct Reports
- Indirect reporting relationships
- Major constituents or stakeholder relationships
- Spokesperson for unit
Organizational Level Classification Factors
Just as positions are classified by their duties, tasks, and responsibilities, the scope and complexity of a position’s responsibilities is also correlated with the size, functions, and reach of the unit where the position is placed. The levels of responsibility, complexity, and impact of a position at the university level is most often greater than a similar position in a department given a larger customer base, scope of responsibility, and impact of actions and decisions.
Given the above, here is a set of common classification variables taken into account when comparing the scope and complexity of a given position in comparison to others in other units:
- Size of unit
- Number and type of unit departments, functions, sections, etc.
- Nature of the work
- Number of staff
- Number of managers
- Number of Professional Staff/Faculty
- Type of customers (e.g., students, faculty, internal/external, etc.)
- Number of customers/students, if applicable
- Size of Budget
- Facilities
- Internal Constituencies
- External Constituencies
- Policy-making Responsibility
- Reporting Structure
- Impact of the work
