We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is an Assignment Method?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 20,503
Share

An assignment method is an approach to the allocation of resources, from personnel to equipment, that will result in the most optimal distribution and utilization of those resources. Assignment methods are used not just in the business world, but also in organizational structures and a variety of other applications. There are many different ways to approach resource problems, and periodic reevaluations may reveal new ways to handle them, especially in changing work environments where needs and resources may change quickly.

Businesses use an assignment method to make budgeting decisions, deciding where to invest funds and how to distribute monies to different departments and projects. They may consider past performance, ongoing projects, and things in development when they decide how to allocate the assets. The goal is to make money available while discouraging waste in a department, to keep the department functional and lean. Companies may also want to retain funds for emergencies, investments, and other needs that could arise during their operations.

Equipment and facilities can also be allocated with an assignment method. Businesses have a finite number of physical resources like computers and warehouses, and need to use them effectively. It might devote new computers and resources like more bandwidth and storage to a department working on a big project, for instance, so the project's needs won't outstrip its available resources. Conversely, a small department might need much less, and would find new computers or equipment like tablets redundant for its operations.

People can also be treated as resources and sent to various departments and regions under an assignment method. This can commonly be seen with a sales force, where a company wants personnel in the right markets at the right times. It can recall salespeople to move them to different districts, beefing up representation where necessary and cutting back in communities where these personnel are not as necessary.

The same assignment method approach is used for things like assigning Internet protocol (IP) addresses, registration numbers for aircraft, liquor licenses, and a wide variety of other unique identifiers and privileges. The assignment method can help an agency decide how many to offer, and how to distribute the offer to make it fair and reasonable. In a county with a small population, for example, few drivers' license numbers are needed by the department of motor vehicles, while in an urban county with a big population, a huge number might need to be allocated.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-assignment-method.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.