Position-based headcount planning: vacancies, approvals and capacity
A position is a planning and authorization object, not always a person. Position-based models are valuable because they make vacancies, backfills and future capacity visible.
Separate the three totals
People employed, positions authorized and management targets are different quantities. For example, 1,020 people, 1,050 authorized positions and a target of 1,000 can all be accurate simultaneously.
Plan actions instead of overwriting totals
Use Add, Remove, Move, Change FTE and Change Grade with effective dates. A replacement should not automatically increase HC; a location transfer should not automatically increase Group HC.
Show vacancies without inventing employees
An authorized vacant role may carry budgeted FTE and planning cost while actual employee HC remains zero for that role.
Keep approval separate from scenario
A proposed position or scenario belongs in its own version. It becomes an authorized target only through the configured governance process.