Analyzing Movement

Internal movement is hard to track accuratelymostly because of the ripple effect that simple transfers can cause across the organization. One solution is to use Markov Analysis to determine the number of positions you need to fill over the coming year and identify the other positions that will shift as a result. The outcome is a separate table for each situation that lets you analyze the change visually.

In this technique, you will make a series of simple calculations to determine the probability of an event happening then plot those changes into the tables for Positions to Fill and Position Movement. Use the staffing table below as your starting point for the current complement of employees. Then factor in the changes anticipated for the coming year.

For your calculations, click the Civil Engineers Inc. link and the use the spreadsheet provided.

Scenario

The company has the following goals for next year:

• Open three new offices across the country. Each office requires 5 directors, 15 senior managers, 30 managers, 50 associates, and 80 assistants.
• Discontinue the Highway Signage group, which is loosing money. This will decrease staffing by 15 directors, 20 senior managers, 30 managers, 50 associates, and 150 assistants.
• Introduce a new computer system to increase efficiency. This system requires 5 senior managers, 10 managers, and 50 associates.

Level	Position	Number	Quit	Retiring	Attrition
1	CEO	1	0	0	0
2	Executive Vice-President	5	2	2	2
3	Senior Vice-President	10	5	5	4
4	Vice-President	20	10	0	5
5	Director	100	40	0	31
6	Senior Manager	200	15	0	47
7	Manager	400	50	0	87
8	Associate	500	30	0	150
9	Assistant	12,000	40	0	300

Tip: If you are not sure how to perform the calculations, review the explanation for using Markov Analysis on the Commentary page.

Instructions

To complete your calculations:

1. Click the link above to open the spreadsheet and save a copy to your local computer.
2. Fill out the table on the Positions to Fill tab of the worksheet provided.
3. Fill out the table on the Position Movement tab of the worksheet provided.
4. Analyze the results to answer the questions below.

Questions

Answer these questions in your journal:

1. What is the number of promotions if the organization uses a promote from within policy?
2. What is the number of employee movements if the organization uses a promote from within policy?

Provide a Positions to Fill and a Position Movement table for each condition to prove your answer.

Criteria

For this technique, points are assigned to each of the following categories:

• The Positions to Fill table shows the correct staffing Changes (2 points).
• The Positions to Fill table shows the correct staffing Replacements (2 points).
• The Position Movement table shows the correct number of employee movements (2 points).
• The Position Movement table shows the correct number of promotions (2 points).
• Both tables include a written note to explain your conclusions (2 points).