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Human Resources structure to support growth.

Clarity in roles. Consistency in processes. Continuity in decisions.

VAGAR supports organisations in diagnosing and developing their Human Resources structure: clarifying roles and responsibilities, organising policies and processes, preparing succession and reducing critical dependencies. The scope may cover the HR function as a whole or a clearly defined organisational need.

Clarity Define roles, responsibilities and decision rights.
Consistency Create processes that do not depend solely on individual memory.
Continuity Identify roles and knowledge whose absence creates vulnerability.
Proportionality Design the structure required for the organisation’s actual stage.
When it may be relevant

Growth begins to expose what was previously hidden.

What once worked through proximity, memory or direct intervention becomes insufficient when the organisation grows, changes or needs to distribute responsibility.

01

Too many decisions depend on the same person

Operations slow down when the founder, senior management or one manager must approve everything or retain all relevant knowledge.

02

Roles exist, but their boundaries are unclear

There are overlaps, gaps, conflicts of authority or different expectations about who should act and decide.

03

HR processes live in people’s memory

Practices vary according to who performs them, and the organisation struggles to explain rules, stages and responsibilities.

04

The structure no longer keeps pace with the organisation

Growth, professionalisation or a transition has created needs that the previous design can no longer support.

Areas of intervention

From understanding the structure to building the capacity to operate.

The six areas may be addressed together or separately. The design depends on the problem, organisational size, maturity of the HR function and resources available for implementation.

01 HR function diagnosis Understand practices, processes, responsibilities, risks and priorities.

The diagnosis creates a structured basis for deciding what to retain, review, create or remove.

Review of practices Existing processes, owners, documents and actual ways of working.
HR function maturity Current capacity, dependencies and needs proportionate to the context.
Risk map Operational, documentary and continuity vulnerabilities requiring further analysis.
Intervention priorities Recommended sequence, dependencies and required decisions.
02 Roles and responsibilities Clarify contributions, interfaces, authority and expectations by role.

A useful job description should support the work itself, recruitment, performance and coordination between roles.

Job analysis Structured information about purpose, responsibilities and context.
Job descriptions Contributions, activities, requirements and expected results.
Responsibility matrix Roles, interfaces and handover points between areas.
Decision rights Who decides, participates, approves or should be informed.
03 HR policies and processes Document rules, workflows and responsibilities in an understandable and usable form.

The aim is not to produce excessive documentation, but to reduce unnecessary variation and dependence on informal knowledge.

Policy architecture Topics, principles, owners and relationships between documents.
Process mapping Stages, stakeholders, decisions, inputs and outputs.
Procedures and guides Practical guidance to support consistent execution.
Review and governance Accountability for updating, communicating and monitoring use.
04 Succession and continuity Identify critical roles, alternatives and preparation requirements.

A succession plan reduces surprise and organises preparation. It does not guarantee future availability, retention or readiness.

Critical roles Roles whose absence could compromise operations, decisions or knowledge.
Succession scenarios Internal, external or temporary alternatives to consider.
Preparation Required experiences, development and exposure.
Knowledge transfer Essential knowledge, supporting materials and responsibilities for sharing.
05 HR operations and systems Review workflows, tools, data and indicators that support the function.

Technology should respond to clear requirements. Digitising a poorly defined process simply transfers the problem to another tool.

Process optimisation Redundancies, time requirements, handovers and opportunities for simplification.
System requirements Functional needs before technical selection or configuration.
Data and indicators Required information, quality, accountability and use.
HR operating model Distribution of internal responsibilities and external support.
06 Governance and delegation Distribute decision-making and oversight without losing visibility over the business.

This area is particularly relevant for founders and leaders who need to move away from being at the centre of every decision.

Decision map Recurring decisions, owners, boundaries and escalation routes.
Structured delegation Results, autonomy, information and review points.
Governance rhythms Meetings, reporting and forums appropriate to each decision.
Founder transition Priorities and stages for reducing operational dependence.
Engagement models

The structure may be assessed, redesigned or supported through implementation.

The starting point depends on what already exists, what needs to be decided and the internal capacity available for implementation.

Model 01

Diagnosis and priorities

Review of the current situation, identification of dependencies and risks, and a recommended sequence of intervention.

Model 02

Focused project

Work centred on one area, such as roles, policies, processes, succession or the operating model.

Model 03

Supported restructuring

Integrated design, preparation of those responsible, implementation support and review points.

What you may receive

Deliverables for organising and executing.

Materials are defined by the scope and prepared to support decisions, responsibilities and continued use.

Diagnostic report Current state, evidence, risks, limitations and priorities.
Process map Stages, owners, decisions, inputs and outputs.
Job descriptions Purpose, responsibilities, requirements and expected contributions.
Responsibility matrix Interfaces, authority, participation and escalation.
Succession plan Critical roles, scenarios, preparation and knowledge transfer.
Implementation plan Stages, owners, communication, dependencies and review.
How it begins

Begin by understanding how the organisation actually operates.

The formal structure is only one part. The work also considers decisions, practices, dependencies and implementation capacity.

01 Scoping conversation

Clarify the problem, scope, required decisions and stakeholders.

02 Review of actual practice

Gather relevant documents, practices, perspectives and dependencies.

03 Design and validation

Build the solution with those responsible and test feasibility and understanding.

04 Implementation and review

Support communication, use, responsibilities and necessary adjustments.

Responsibilities and boundaries

Structuring does not mean imposing a universal model.

  • VAGAR may diagnose, recommend, design and support. Decisions and accountability for implementation remain with the organisation.
  • The diagnosis does not constitute a legal, tax, accounting, financial, information security or occupational health and safety audit.
  • Changes with employment implications require coordination with the appropriate legal and technical specialists.
  • A succession plan cannot guarantee a person’s future availability, retention, readiness or performance.
  • Employee, role, performance and compensation data requires appropriate rules regarding access, purpose, retention and protection.
  • The selection, purchase, configuration or technical integration of platforms may require specialist providers and separate validation.
Frequently asked questions

What to know before moving forward.

Does the entire HR function need to be restructured?

No. The work may focus on a clearly defined need, provided that the dependencies required for the solution to function are also considered.

Does VAGAR replace an internal Human Resources team?

It does not replace senior management, management accountability or the internal capability the organisation needs. VAGAR may strengthen an existing team, structure a developing function or support agreed priorities, with clear responsibilities between the organisation and the external support.

Is it possible to begin with an HR diagnosis?

Yes. The diagnosis may be commissioned as a standalone project and conclude with an assessment of the current situation, priorities and recommendations, without requiring the organisation to commission implementation.

Does VAGAR implement HR software?

We can support the definition of processes and requirements. Technical configuration and integration depend on the scope and may require a specialist technology provider.

How long does a project take?

It depends on the scope, organisational size, existing documentation, number of stakeholders and intended level of implementation. The proposal defines the stages, responsibilities and timetable.

Initial conversation

The right structure begins with the problem that needs to be resolved.

We begin by understanding what already exists, where the dependencies lie and which decision the organisation needs to make.