Role Analysis (HERA) Overview
Role Analysis (HERA) Overview
Role analysis (also known as job evaluation) is a systematic approach used to determine the relative value (or size) of roles within an organisation by measuring the demands and responsibilities of the role (but not the performance of the individual in it). The University uses HERA (Higher Education Role Analysis) to evaluate jobs as it was developed by a consortium of over 100 higher education institutions to cover the vast range of jobs which can be found within the higher education sector. The scheme has been rigorously tested at a national level to ensure that it is fit for purpose and it is used extensively across the sector. Go to HERA for further information.
The HERA scheme uses a questionnaire format to measure the level of responsibility and demands of a role in relation to each element. Once the appropriate role information has been gathered, each element is scored using the HERA scoring system. These scores are then combined to give an overall point score for the role. It is this score that determines the relative value of roles, and ultimately the grade a role is assigned, although it does not determine the actual salary point within that grade.
How are roles scored?
HERA trained Role Analysts examine the evidence (in the Further Particulars, the Job Description or full Grading Review application) to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the 50 questions in the questionnaire against which all roles are measured. They then assess the degree to which the activity is undertaken (in order to assign an appropriate response).
For example, the Communication element consists of six questions – three relating to oral communication and three relating to written communication. The three oral communication questions are:
- Does the role holder receive, understand and convey straightforward information in a clear and accurate manner?
- Does the role holder receive, understand and convey information which needs careful explanation or interpretation to help others understand, taking into account what to communicate and how best to convey the information to others?
- Does the role holder receive, understand and convey complex conceptual ideas or complex information which may be highly detailed, technical or specialist?
There are three possible responses to each of these questions:
- Essential – frequently used
- Essential – occasionally used
- Not relevant
The Role Analysts assess the evidence using detailed guidance notes (built up over the period HERA has been used at the University) and by looking at how other roles have been scored both in the School/Unit and across the University - within the grade, between different grades and across different Job families/Generic role descriptors. This ensures that roles are being evaluated consistently.
Once all 50 questions have been allocated a response, they are input into the HERA software which produces a total score for the job and determines the grade in line with the HERA score ranges.
New roles continue to be added to the grading structure via the role analysis of Further Particulars and Job Descriptions. The grades of existing roles may be reviewed via the Grading review process for all professional services roles graded 1-8. The grades of Academic roles and Teaching or Research roles currently graded 6 and above may be reviewed via Academic promotions.
Contacts
Please email Sam Cobain regarding any enquires you may have about HERA role analysis.