Chapter 21. Structuring Strategic Workforce Planning to Support Common Business Initiatives: Setting Up Relevant Staffing Models for the Changes You Are Facing

There is no limit to the number of business changes and initiatives whose implementation can be greatly facilitated by the application of workforce planning. This chapter describes in detail how workforce planning can be used to help implement three very common business initiatives: a straightforward growth scenario, a merger/acquisition opportunity, and the opening of a “greenfield” facility (such as a new manufacturing facility). A fourth example is provided that applies when specific skills changes in a particular job family or function are required in order to implement a business strategy effectively. For each of these three examples, I have identified:

• The overall workforce planning approach that should be used

• The most likely staffing issues and implications that will arise from that business strategy or initiative

• What the staffing model itself should look like (e.g., who should be included, what the planning horizon should be, what the rows and columns of the model might denote)

• What longer-term staffing strategies might best address the critical staffing issues that are identified

Specific staffing plans can then be defined within the context of these staffing strategies. Because these plans are so specific to particular change scenarios, I have not suggested any here. Remember that your staffing plans might incorporate internal movement, promotions, recruiting, redeployment, use of part-time staff, use of consultants or contractors, use of overtime, the outsourcing of work, planned reductions in staffing levels, and many other options.

While the approaches described for each of the four initiatives are generic, they will probably apply in large measure (with some customization, of course) to instances in which your organization is trying to implement these business strategies and initiatives. At the very least, they provide a logical train of thought that will give you a real leg up when it comes to developing a workforce planning process that is appropriate for your particular business initiative or strategy.