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Human Resources, like Finance and Marketing, is
a support function; organisational enablers with
'grey' ownership as they rely on the business
executive and managers to execute policies and
programs. However there is far greater status
(and power) given to the Chief Financial Officer
or Marketing Director than to the head of Human
Resources. Despite compelling argument that
people management is a key strategic issue, Human
Resources struggle to be recognized as value creators
– the key role they seek. Workforce Planning
is an activity that helps the Human Resources
function tacitly present their value to their
business.
Market forces like workforce ageing are forcing
organisations to attend to the resources they
have taken for granted. Workforce Planning brings
a perspective that is often missing in business
strategic actions: knowledge about the human capital
factors that are critical in determining whether
a strategy can be implemented.
So who owns Workforce Planning and
getting the balance between employer needs and
employee needs right? Human Resources or
the business? The answer has to be both,
but in many instances the business manager is
reading about the issues but remaining uncertain
about how they will affect them.
A
key component of Workforce Planning is creating
the burning platform to actively do something
to reduce the impacts of the forces affecting
a firm's workforce. Organisations aren’t
in the market for solutions to problems they don’t
see, don’t acknowledge and understand, but Human
Resources are able to present key information
about the current workforce and trends to engage
the business and prompt action to undertake Workforce
Planning.
The window is small – a Human Resources Department
that does not act now may well find itself taking
action too late. Human Resources need to
show their business executive that they have the
tools and capability to attracting and grow talent
to:
- Compete
successfully in the "war for talent"
- Save
the loss of skills and the costs of turnover
- Create
maximum value for and from the people working
Enterprise
Workforce Planning achieves this and presents
a strategic value add proposition to the business.
If you are uncertain where to start them visit
our web site or call us. Time is running
out!
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