Full-Time Hire vs Interim vs Fractional: Decision Tree
A full-time hire is right when the role is permanent and the search timeline is acceptable. Interim is right when the seat is empty and the company cannot wait. Fractional is right when senior leadership is needed but a full-time hire is not yet justified.
The core distinction
A full-time hire is right when the role is permanent and the search timeline is acceptable. Interim is right when the seat is empty and the company cannot wait. Fractional is right when senior leadership is needed but a full-time hire is not yet justified. The difference is not seniority. It is scope, authority, and time.
When to pick which
- Pick the first when the problem is clarity, ownership, and a written outcome
- Pick the second when the problem is execution inside an existing system
- Pick the third when the problem is time bounded and the board wants a defined end
How to decide inside the board
Write the problem down in one sentence, name who signs the decisions, and check whether the current leadership can carry the outcome. If not, pick the option that changes the signer, not the option that adds another advisor.
https://niklaslindahl.com/compare/fulltime-vs-interim-vs-fractional-decision-tree