What is workforce planning and why should we bother?
Workforce planning is a systematic approach to anticipating staffing needs and determining what actions should be taken—starting now—to meet those needs. This multi-step process involves: Gaining a thorough understanding of your current workforce; Envisioning the operating environment that will most likely exist in the future; Identifying the competencies that will move the firm forward to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in what will undoubtedly be a new world of work; and Developing strategies and implementing tactics for building this workforce. Workforce planning puts you “one step ahead,” resulting in informed staffing decisions that benefit the company in both the short- and long-term. Its many advantages, however, are not limited to recruitment and selection; it also provides a framework for other HR policies and programs such as training, compensation, and diversity management. More importantly, it helps you recognize the most effective and efficient use of
