Timequip's project management system is built around a hierarchical role structure that defines what users can do within specific projects. The three project-level roles—Leader, Editor, and Viewer—provide granular control over project access and functionality, ensuring that team members have appropriate permissions based on their responsibilities.
Role Hierarchy and Permissions
The project roles follow a clear hierarchy where higher-level roles inherit all permissions from lower levels. This structure ensures that users with elevated access can perform all tasks available to users with lesser permissions.
Project Leader
The Project Leader role represents the highest level of project authority. Leaders have comprehensive control over project management and team coordination. As project administrators, they can:
- Manage Project Members: Add, remove, and modify roles of all project participants
- Edit Project Content: Create, modify, and delete all project data and configurations
- View Project Information: Access all project details, reports, and analytics
- Control Project Settings: Modify project parameters, workflows, and configurations
Leaders are essentially project owners who can shape the project's direction and ensure proper team collaboration. They can promote or demote other team members, making them responsible for maintaining the project's integrity and security.
Project Editor
Editors are content contributors who can actively participate in project development without administrative responsibilities. Their permissions include:
- Edit Project Content: Create, modify, and delete project data, documents, and resources
- View Project Information: Access all project details and collaborate with team members
- Collaborate Effectively: Work with other team members on project tasks and deliverables
Editors cannot manage other users or modify project settings, but they have full access to the project's content creation and editing capabilities. This role is ideal for team members who need to actively contribute to project work without administrative overhead.
Project Viewer
Viewers have the most restricted access, designed for stakeholders who need to monitor project progress without making changes. Their permissions include:
- View Project Information: Access project details, reports, and current status
- Monitor Progress: Stay informed about project developments and team activities
- Read-Only Access: Review content without the ability to modify or delete
This role is perfect for clients, executives, or external stakeholders who need visibility into project progress without the risk of accidental modifications or unauthorized changes.
Role Assignment and Management
Project roles are managed through a flexible system that allows Leaders to adjust team composition based on evolving project needs. When a new user joins a project, they automatically receive Viewer permissions by default, ensuring a secure baseline access level.
Leaders can promote users to Editor or Leader roles based on their responsibilities and trust level. The system prevents accidental removal of the last Project Leader, ensuring that projects always maintain administrative oversight. This safeguard prevents orphaned projects and maintains continuity of project management.
Security and Access Control
The role system integrates with Timequip's broader security framework, providing multiple layers of access control. Project permissions are enforced at both the API and application levels, ensuring that users cannot bypass role restrictions through technical means.
Each role is validated against the user's account-level permissions, creating a comprehensive security model that respects both organizational and project-specific boundaries. This dual-layer approach ensures that users cannot exceed their authorized access regardless of their project role.
Best Practices for Role Management
Effective role management is crucial for maintaining project security and team efficiency. Consider these guidelines when assigning project roles:
- Start Conservative: Begin new team members as Viewers and promote them as needed
- Regular Reviews: Periodically assess whether users' current roles align with their responsibilities
- Principle of Least Privilege: Assign the minimum permissions necessary for users to perform their duties
- Clear Communication: Ensure team members understand their role limitations and responsibilities
By following these practices, project teams can maintain security while enabling effective collaboration and productivity.
The Timequip project role system provides a robust foundation for team collaboration, balancing flexibility with security to support projects of any size and complexity.