More time for roster planning

Less time assembling figures means more time understanding them. Consistent roster data helps planners see where a pattern, staffing assumption or overtime allocation needs attention.

Start with consistent data

Start with shifts, worked hours, overtime, leave, qualifications and working-position assignments. Define the period, staff group and units used so that comparisons are meaningful.

Spreadsheet formulas, exports and business-intelligence tools can all contribute. If data is exported from SkyRoster, confirm that the selected fields and reporting period answer the question being examined.

Give each report a purpose

A planner may need to compare shift counts, while a head of unit needs a view of coverage or overtime. A dashboard should make the relevant measure clear and allow the reader to inspect the underlying records.

Power BI is one possible tool for exploring these outputs. A useful report might show total hours by employee, shifts by type, leave taken and the minimum, maximum and average values across a team. Visualisation does not replace checking the source data.

See time on position

Hours on duty are not the same as hours available on an operational position. Breaks and other duties affect that relationship.

SkyRoster’s tactical roster connects available staff with working-position demand. Review the planned position coverage and breaks, rather than assuming all presence hours can be allocated to operational work.

Look at who works overtime

Examine both the amount of overtime and who works it. Differences may reflect qualifications, availability, contracts or assignment choices. Identify the cause before concluding that the distribution is unfair or can be reduced.

If demand exceeds available capacity, changing the roster may not remove the need for additional staff. Use scenario comparisons to distinguish scheduling options from headcount effects.

See the attendance and overtime reports, then examine the 96-controller simulation for an example of overtime and position-time analysis.