Moving Beyond Standard Evaluation

The Role Demand Contribution Index (RDCI) is designed to function across every industry, utilising nine fixed dimensions that capture the universal features of work. These five demand dimensions and four contribution dimensions measure complexity, time pressure, decision-making risk, scope, and accountability. For most organisations, these nine dimensions are sufficient to evaluate roles fairly and consistently, ensuring transparency and compliance with equal pay regulations.

However, certain industries encounter unique challenges where a single failure can trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire organisation and beyond. For these businesses, there are advantages to incorporating custom dimensions that measure factors critical to the business, even if many roles score at a low level.

This bespoke option does not replace the core nine dimensions. The RDCI score and banding remain based solely on the five demand and four contribution dimensions. The custom dimensions are scored separately, creating an additional layer of insight specific to the organisation and its strategy.

The Value of Custom Dimensions in Logistics

Global logistics companies exist to ensure the continuous movement of goods. Every customer promise, every supply chain, and every global marketplace relies on their ability to operate without disruption. These businesses function in a high-stakes environment where even minor interruptions can lead to significant consequences: empty shelves, halted production lines, missed medical deliveries, and reputational damage.

They also operate in a world filled with constant uncertainty. Geopolitical changes, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and sudden spikes in demand can all challenge the resilience of the network. Surviving these shocks is not solely the responsibility of operations teams. HR, finance, IT, legal, and every other function play a role in ensuring the organisation can adapt quickly and maintain performance under pressure.

For organisations in this sector, adding bespoke dimensions enables leadership to assess how well the workforce supports two existential priorities: maintaining the flow of goods and ensuring the network can recover from disruptions.

Custom Demand Dimension: Continuity Pressure

Continuity Pressure measures the extent to which a role is exposed to the relentless demand to keep goods and services moving without interruption. In logistics, continuity is not merely a background goal; it is the central promise to customers and partners. If the network halts, trust is compromised, and revenue is lost. This pressure manifests in various ways throughout the organisation:

• An air freight controller or port operations manager experiences it directly, working in real-time to prevent stoppages.

• A procurement manager faces it indirectly, ensuring critical equipment and supplies are available to support the flow of goods.

• Even roles in finance or HR are interconnected, as decisions about funding, headcount, and workforce readiness impact the company’s ability to maintain uninterrupted service.

  
  

By scoring Continuity Pressure for every role, the company gains a clear understanding of where operational risk is highest and where teams are under sustained strain. This assessment highlights vulnerabilities that may not be visible through workload data alone, allowing leadership to intervene before problems escalate.

Custom Contribution Dimension: Network Resilience Influence

Network Resilience Influence measures the extent to which a role contributes to strengthening the organisation’s ability to withstand and recover from disruption. Resilience is not confined to a single department; it is a characteristic of the entire network, encompassing front-line operations and corporate functions.

• A strategy team designing contingency routes contributes directly to resilience.

• IT teams maintaining secure, reliable systems provide critical foundations for rapid response.

• HR teams developing flexible staffing models indirectly enhance the network’s adaptability.

• Even communications or legal teams influence resilience through their management of external stakeholders during crises.

  
  

Scoring this dimension across the organisation reveals where resilience is actively being built and where gaps remain. It also identifies which roles have the greatest impact on the company’s ability to recover swiftly from shocks, assisting leaders in focusing investment and training on the areas that matter most.

Insights from a Customised Approach

Incorporating Continuity Pressure and Network Resilience Influence creates an additional layer of insight alongside the core RDCI evaluation. Together, they address two critical questions:

1. Where is the pressure to keep goods moving most intense, and is it sustainable?

2. Where do we excel, and where do we falter in our ability to recover from disruption?

   
   

A customised report may reveal, for instance, that a single regional hub bears a disproportionate share of continuity risk or that resilience relies too heavily on a small group of specialists. These insights empower leadership to proactively address risks rather than merely reacting to crises after they occur.

The Importance of Continuity and Resilience

For a global logistics company, continuity and resilience are not just operational goals; they form the foundation of the business model.

• Enhanced decision-making – Leadership can make informed choices about resource allocation and capability development.

• Early warning system – High scores in Continuity Pressure may indicate potential burnout or structural fragility before failure occurs.

• Strategic workforce planning – Understanding which roles significantly impact resilience aids in shaping hiring, development, and succession planning.

• Compliance and trust – The nine fixed dimensions remain intact, ensuring evaluations are fair, transparent, and legally defensible.

  
  

The Power of Bespoke Evaluation

Some organisations may opt to utilise only the nine fixed RDCI dimensions for simplicity and comparability. This approach is entirely valid and provides a robust, compliant evaluation framework.

Others, particularly those operating in complex, high-risk environments such as global logistics, benefit from a deeper analysis. By adding Continuity Pressure and Network Resilience Influence, they gain visibility into the forces that truly define their success.

This approach does not alter the official RDCI scores or pay banding. Instead, it creates a powerful tool for strategic insight, equipping leaders with the clarity needed to protect the network, support their teams, and maintain the movement of goods in a world that never ceases to change.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of custom dimensions into the RDCI framework offers invaluable insights for organisations, particularly in the logistics sector. By understanding the pressures of continuity and the influence of resilience, leadership can make informed decisions that enhance operational effectiveness. This approach not only supports compliance with equal pay regulations but also fosters a culture of transparency and fairness within the organisation.

In a landscape where every decision matters, the ability to evaluate roles with precision and clarity is essential. The RDCI, complemented by bespoke dimensions, serves as a vital tool in achieving these objectives.