Foreword

WHEN WORKFORCE ASSET MANAGEMENT BOOK of Knowledge (the WAMBOK) passed my desk I knew the time for dramatic change was finally upon the industry. The WAMBOK exposes a painfully obvious, yet historically elusive management reality: People management cannot be left to the front-line manager, the HR policy edict, or to the mechanical processes of an automated system alone. When it comes to managing people, systems do not simply replace managers, and managers cannot suffice for what systems must handle in today's highly regulated, competitive, and complex workplace. Old models for aligning the workforce are breaking down because people have changed, technology has matured, and management strategy has not kept abreast.

Workforce Asset Management (WAM) has entered the arena as the convergence of functions within four areas of management: human resources, operations, finance, and information technology. Our industries often do not realize how much workforce management (WFM) impacts daily activities and functions. From adhering to compliance regulations, scheduling, and compensating to benchmarking, analyzing, and improving, WFM decisions have an enormous impact on the financial and nonfinancial success of an organization. The WAMBOK addresses these issues from a variety of perspectives. No place else can you find the convergence of so many expert minds—technologists, researchers, academics, practitioners, and policy advocates.

For years, workforce management has been pigeonholed as “back office,” “administrative,” and “tactical.” The approach to the solutions has been more focused on the technology and technical issues than the strategic and value-driven outcomes. That is changing. People are realizing that WFM is more than strictly time and attendance reporting. Businesses are beginning to recognize the power of WFM data, especially when used predictively and proactively. Businesses need new strategies and leading practices on controlling labor costs, increasing profits and ROI, encouraging better employee productivity and retention models, etcetera. The WAMBOK ignites a compelling discussion on why we should take WFM out of the back office and bring it to the board room.

We are an information-hungry society. There are countless books on improving management skills or growing your business through technology, such as automation. Yet even if you have automation or experienced managers, these do not mean that you are deploying systems and people correctly, to the fullest of their capabilities, or, as Disselkamp puts it, “with intent.” Nourish your organization's maturity by knowing the technology you own, understanding the people that work for you, and using that information in concert with what is desirable and workable for all.

So what makes Workforce Asset Management Book of Knowledge unique?

First, the WAMBOK is “actionable,” meaning you can use it on the job. This referenceable text should be on the bookshelf of every executive, every supervisor or manager, and even every employee in organizations large or small. Those new to the workforce management field will be impressed by the sheer volume of content—more than 600 pages of knowledge from over 40 different contributors, ranging from PhDs from leading universities to industry professionals with decades of experience in WFM. Specialists and long-time industry professionals will be astonished by the depth and complexity of the issues covered, from designing legally defensible systems to managing fatigue and work-life balance. But more than that, the WAMBOK coalesces a wide and important range of topics into meaningful explanations of how they need to be aligned and enabled in the workplace. Although the length may seem daunting, the content is well-organized and well-marked for quick reference in the future. It is a text that professionals will reach for often.

Second, the WAMBOK closes the knowledge gap between people and technology. This book does not try to sell you a certain strategy, product, or package. It presents leading practices from a multiplicity of perspectives, giving you the options for better decision making. An overwhelming number of business are unable to engage in effective workforce planning and management because they lack the knowledge, information, or organization to do so. The WAMBOK takes a “ground-up approach” to maturing your business—from helping sellers better negotiate and build stronger relationships with clients to improving the overall user experience and adoption during the implementation processes.

Third, the WAMBOK will standardize and certify these leading practices and new models of success. With the introduction of the Workforce Asset Management Professional (WAM-Pro) and the Workforce Management Office (WMO), the WAMBOK is designed to help organizations secure long-term success. The WAM-Pro certification will be a measuring stick for verifying WAM knowledge and skills, and a gateway opportunity for individuals to make their roles more impactful and high profile. The WAMBOK explains how the WMO becomes the new home and owner of WFM technology, and how it will give employers a centralized source of WFM information in the organization. Underneath the guidance and direction of the WMO, the WAMBOK makes the case for WAM-Pros positioned to effectively impact your business.

This is not “just another HR or management book.” Whether you are an employee, employer, buyer, seller, manufacturer, academic, or independent consultant—whether you sit in the executive suite or on the shop floor—it is unlikely you will put down this book without learning something and using this text to create a positive financial or operational impact in your workplace. The WAMBOK is unafraid to combat workplace issues head-on. After reading this content, I cannot wait to see how it will effectively spur the restructuring, realigning, and reinvigoration of WFM within organizations of all sizes. I have already observed that mature organizations have embraced WAM as a strategic means to use technology with intent, as a method of active, engaged, and balanced management of people. With the WAMBOK, you too will have the guidebook to cutting-edge topics, real solutions, and measurable success.

Todd Johnson
Workforce Management Magazine, former publisher