This is the first step in the measurement and evaluation process. Having decided on your own vision of flexibility, design an initial measurement strategy including the four key components of flexibility:

Leadership

1. Have flexibility measures been incorporated into business planning?
2. Have flexibility behaviours been incorporated into leadership competencies?
3. Are senior managers effective role models of flexibility?

Systems and Policies

1. What flexibility policies are in place and are they utilised?
2. Does utilisation vary by level and gender?
3. How effective do employees consider these policies to be?

Work Practices and Expectations

1. Have career pathways been evaluated and redesigned?
2. Have jobs been redesigned to enable a higher level of flexibility?

Culture

1. How responsive are supervisors to the flexibility needs of employees?
2. How satisfied are employees with the level of flexibility?
3. Are long hours rewarded?

Tips:

• Focus on assessment at the workgroup level;
• Focus on the extent to which there is evidence of the integration of workplace issues for women into core business activities; and
• Identify current assumptions about career pathways and the potential barriers to changing these.