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Introductory FAQs : Answering your common queries
Rostima are committed to supporting our customer for all eventualities. Please
refer to this FAQ for general non-product related questions.
How do the three modules link together?
Duty Planner |
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Rostima Scheduler |
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Duty Manager |
DutyPlanner is where event schedules and resource requirements (or work standards)
are input to form the basis of a workload. Once these have been set up, the
software brings together events and resource requirements to generate activities,
smoothing where possible, to give a complete workload profile.
Scheduler takes the workload profile and user-defined parameters of shift rules,
skills, roles and preferences to evaluate roster options. Annual leave and training
commitments can also be managed in Scheduler.
DutyManager is where activities can be managed on the day of operations. Activities
are assigned to shifts with the flexibility to easily change both events and
assignments.
How do you define an optimal roster?
A number of different measures can be used to assess the quality of any roster.
Some key quantifiable measures of roster quality are cost, utilisation (productivity)
rate and number of violations of sociability factors. These factors together
recognise that a good roster is not just one which has a low cost, but which
also gets the balance right with meeting service levels and work rules, as well
as being attractive to staff.
When should the software be used?
The software has applicability for both operational scheduling and strategic
planning.
For operational scheduling, whenever there are significant changes to events,
work processes or any other parameters within the system these should be updated
in DutyPlanner to accurately reflect workload. Scheduler can be used to re-run
rosters as frequently as the roster period requires. DutyManager and leave planner
are used daily to give a real time picture of which resources are available
to meet the activities.
In addition the software can be used whenever required for strategic decision
making such as evaluating the impact of a new contract on workload and staffing
levels or running a new recruitment campaign.
Who should use the software?
We recommend that a Roster Owner has complete ‘super-user’ responsibility within
each organisation. This super-user does not only generate rosters but also uses
the software to identify potential improvements in roster quality. This responsibility
can be incorporated into an existing role such as rostering manager, productivity
manager or warehouse manager.
As well as the super-user, it is recommended that at least two staff from every
site be given basic training to keep the system updated and also generate rosters.
The software is multi-user so up to ten concurrent users can use the software
at the same time.
If these haven't helped or you think a particular question should be included,
then email
us your questions.
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