Configure Dotted-Line Relationships

- New Organization Designer user interface -

Dotted-line relationships represent alternate supervisory relationships between positions, in contrast to the solid-line managerial relationships. Dotted-line relationships connect positions to each other, regardless of the employees occupying them. The supervisory relationship continues even when one or both occupants vacate their positions, unless the relationship is updated or removed. The new employee who occupies the position inherits all solid-line and dotted-line relationships.

In the following screenshot of a portion of the organization designer, the Operations Manager reports to the COO and has a dotted-line relationship to the CFO position:

You can see a position’s dotted-line relationships in the Information > Relationships tab of the position panel, in the Dotted-Line Relationships section. The panel shows relationships that are active as of the date selected in Organization Designer. You can click View all to see all relationships including past and future ones.

If the position has any dotted-line relationships, the Information > Relationships tab can show one or both of the following sections:

• Active Supervisors: Positions that supervise the selected position in a dotted-line relationship. In the previous example, you’d see the CFO as an active supervisor in the Operations Manager’s position details. You can edit the active supervisors in the Information > Relationships tab.
• Active Reports: Positions that the selected position supervises in a dotted-line relationship. In the previous example, you’d see the Operations Manager as an active report in the CFO’s position details. Active reports are read-only. To edit one of these relationships, go to the position panel for the position that’s being supervised.

When you open the Operations Manager position, you can see the position's dotted-line relationships in the Details tab, in the Dotted-Line Relationships section:

Positions under the Active Supervisors heading are the position's dotted-line managers. Positions under the Active Reports heading are supervised by the selected position. You can click the actions menu and then click Edit to update the dotted-line relationships.

Dotted-line relationships don’t affect work assignments and management reports by default. When you add a dotted-line relationship, you can select the Allow Occupant Access option to assign the supervisor with access to the dotted-line employee. For example, the Operations Manager reports directly to the COO and has a dotted-line relationship to the CFO. When the CFO is given access to the employee occupying the Operations Manager position, the Work > Management Assignments screen in People shows that she reports to both the COO and the CFO.

To add a dotted-line supervisor:

1. Go to Organization Designer > Positions.
2. If you have the edit icon in the toolstrip, click it and select the option that provides you with access to editing dotted-line relationships.
3. Select the position that will be supervised in the dotted-line relationship. For example, if the CFO supervises the Operations Manager, you configure the dotted-line relationship in the Operations Manager's position card.
4. Go to the Information > Relationships tab.
5. Click Add Supervisor.
6. In the Position Name field, select the position that will be the dotted-line supervisor.
7. (Optional) Select effective dates for the relationship. Dotted-line relationships can only be effective as long as both positions are active.
8. (Optional) Click the Allow access to occupant switch to assign the supervisor access to the position occupant. With this option enabled, both the solid line and dotted-line managers have access to the employee. Otherwise, only the solid-line manager has access. You can configure access for a specific period using the date controls.
9. Click Update.

You can see dotted-line relationships for positions in Organization Designer. You can also see an employee's dotted-line managers in People, in the Work > Management Assignments screen if the Allow Occupant Access option is enabled.