Organizational Structure

[Michael Jorgensen]

Ken Eschete wrote:

Please take the time to tell me:

> 1. How does your department fit into the organizational structure at your school and what is your title?

School of Music, part college of Communication and Fine Arts.  Piano Technician

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> 2. Who approves your budget and do you have authority to spend the money according to your own judgment.

Director, School of Music

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> 3. Are you allowed to do anything to raise funds for your own departmental use by selling surplus pianos, or providing tuning services to other university departments for a fee.

Yes,  All other departments are charged fee for my services.   We are out of the piano loan business. University Events does this and that was a big improvement.

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> 5. Are you involved with any of the "handy-man" stuff that needs to be done in your school. (Building Management? )

No,  piano tuning is a high skill which should be highly paid, consequently time should is not spent on lower skill activities.  Once in a great while I might help a co-worker, but only as a personal thing not as part of my job.  Never do any lifting or anything dangerous which is outside the job description as that could create liability problems for you and the school.
     My position was under Music Events Director for several years.   It was changed back to the Director because I service the entire school not just the events aspect which is probably only 15-20% of time.  This also relieved me of attending additional meetings or developing lopsided focus.  It avoids isolating me from faculty and the tendency of intermediaries to create "work order" syndromes or other cumbersome things.  I work directly with all faculty and concert
artists.  The only advantage of being under an events director is not yours, but for leaders.  With more tiers of staff under them, they can justify higher pay.  Such a system hurts school efficiency and lowers your status.
     All of us should have better job classifications, at least PA, Specialists, or  Faculty.   Piano tuning is a complex art, not an ordinary technical skill.  It rightly commands high pay in the private sector.
-Mike Jorgensen

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> Your time would be greatly appreciated.
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> Thanks,
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> Ken Eschete
> Northwestern University