{"id":29905,"date":"2024-12-20T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sii.pl\/blog\/?p=29905"},"modified":"2024-12-13T10:52:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T09:52:17","slug":"bench-management-from-a-resource-managers-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sii.pl\/blog\/en\/bench-management-from-a-resource-managers-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"Bench management from a Resource Manager’s perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you remember the previous article describing the role of a Resource Manager at Sii? If not, start there (PL: Rola Resource Managera w procesie rekrutacji\u2026 i nie tylko<\/a>), before diving into this one. If you do, you might recall my mentioning that working in this position feels like a “mission of a good spirit,” taking care of the broad well-being of team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After four (!) years in this role, numerous successful recruitments, memorable team-building events, and a few minor (and major) failures, I still stand by that statement. I hope my team agrees with me (shout-out to the Salesforce Competency Center team! \ud83d\ude0a).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the role of a Resource Manager offers many advantages, it also presents unique challenges. Opposite the excitement of new projects, recruitment, team growth, professional development, and fun stands one daunting challenge \u2013 the bench<\/em>. What exactly is it, and does it cast a shadow over the daily work of a Resource Manager (RM)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bench \u2013 rules of the game<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bench \u2013 a term you likely associate with football. During a match, the team plays with its starting lineup while other members sit on the sidelines, ready to substitute when needed. Similarly, at Sii, not every employee is always actively engaged in a project. Sometimes, they’re waiting for their turn to join the “game.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who will join the game?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two main ways someone might end up on the bench:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Joining Sii:<\/strong> You’re a top-notch specialist with high-level skills, fair financial expectations, and a great personality (#siispirit<\/em>). Even if we’re not recruiting for a specific project, we want you on our team. In this case, you join Sii “on the bench” and wait for the opportunity to join a suitable project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Project completion:<\/strong> Your project ends for various reasons \u2014 lack of budget, schedule changes, or simply because it was completed as planned. Sii may not immediately have a new project for you. Instead of a seamless transfer, you may need to wait for the next opportunity, especially when the “transfer window” is closed \ud83d\ude09<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    As you can see, having people on the bench is sometimes necessary! Often, it\u2019s thanks to these team members that Resource Managers can quickly respond to client demands and provide them with the right specialist ASAP<\/em>. Remember, Resource Managers handle the impossible on the spot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, let’s look at how we manage the bench in case number two. Case one is an investment in the company’s growth and is usually easier to manage because it’s planned in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Strateg<\/strong>y<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It’s no secret that the IT industry has slowed down recently. You’ve likely noticed that your LinkedIn inbox isn’t as busy as it used to be, and job ads no longer pop up everywhere. Recruitment processes are longer, often lasting weeks instead of days, and they don’t always end with a job offer \u2014 even for highly skilled professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is because companies are investing less, focusing on stabilization, and, in some cases, simply trying to “survive safely.” The result? Fewer job openings for IT specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to Jooble<\/a>, job offers in the IT industry in Q2 2024 were 20% lower than in Q1. Additionally, some major global players have made reductions \u2013 over 120,000 IT specialists lost their jobs in the first half of 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This cautious approach impacts not only hiring but also the number of “players” on the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is where a well-crafted strategy and tailored tactical actions<\/strong> become critical to steering the team in the right direction \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What’s the plan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Two of Sii’s five strategic goals are profitability and employee satisfaction. How do you balance these when the bench is overflowing and the game schedule remains uncertain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Resource Manager faces a challenging decision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n