Rethinking Job Titles: How Do You Create Motivating Designations in Your Company?

Creating designations, apart from being a creative exercise, can sometimes be the most challenging part of an HR role with a huge impact on human motivation. I am currently in the process of re-evaluating the nomenclatures/designations of the employees in my engineering organization. Though I am familiar with some common threads such as (junior engineer - senior engineer - team lead/tech lead - manager - senior manager), etc., can we discuss to understand what one needs to consider while coming up with a good designation structure for an organization? All inputs on this are welcome.

Importance of Designation Creation

Designation creation is a very important and sensitive part. HR must be on their toes while creating a designation in an organization because it has a wide impact on people and the system. We should keep the following points in mind while creating designations:

- Keep it short and simple.
- Ensure it is technically feasible. Most organizations have HR systems with limitations such as the number of alphabets.
- Avoid duplication and ambiguity.
- Maintain internal and external equity in designations.
- It should meet people's aspirations.

In most organizations, designations have a combination of level and department. For example:
- Executive from HR Department ---- HR Executive
- Manager from Operations Department ---- Operations Manager

This method of creating designations is beneficial as they are simple, and others can understand the job profile based on the designation.

Considerations for Designations Based on Skills

While deciding on various designations, you can also keep in mind the following skills possessed and corresponding designations:

- Managerial Skills
- General Manager - Works/Works Manager
- Deputy General Manager (function)
- Assistant General Manager (function)
- Senior Manager - (function)
- Manager (function), Deputy Manager (function)

- Supervisory Skills & Leadership Skills
- Assistant Manager (function), Senior Supervisor (function)
- Senior Tool Maker or Senior Engineer (Function)

- Ability to Work Independently & Guide Subordinates
- Junior Manager, Supervisor (function), Tool Maker

- Ability to Work Independently
- Assistant Supervisor (function), Assistant Officer (function), Senior Assistants, Marketing Assistant

- Ability to Work Under Supervision
- Junior Supervisor (function), Junior Officer (function), Line Inspector
- RECEPTIONIST, Stores/Excise/Purchase/Accounts/Packing & Dispatch/Time Office-Assistant

Legend: () indicates functions like HR/Stores/Accounts/Excise/Packing/