Lecture 3

Question 1

What is Human Resource Planning?

Answer 1

It is the process for ensuring that the human resource requirements of an organization are identified and plans are made for satisfying those requirements. It involves deciding what positions the firm will have to fill and how to fill them.

Question 2

What is the aim of HR Planning?

Answer 2

HR planning aims to ensure that the organization has the number of people with the right skills needed to meet forecast requirements

Question 3

State 3 reasons for engaging in HR planning

Answer 3

a) Planning for substantive reasons, that is to have a practical effect by optimizing the use of resources acquiring and nurturing skills that take time to develop.
b) Planning because of the process benefits, which involves understanding the present in order to confront the future.
c) Planning for organisational reasons, which involves communicating plans so as to obtain stakeholder support

Question 4

What is strategic planning?

Answer 4

It refers to the procedures for making decisions about the organization’s long-term goals and strategies.

Question 5

How is HR planning critical to strategy?

Answer 5

HR planning helps in identifying:

• Gaps in capabilities – lack of sufficient skills, people or knowledge in the business
• Surpluses in capabilities – providing scope for efficiency and new ventures to capitalize on the skills, people & knowledge underused in order to influence or shape the strategy
• Poor utilisation of people – suggesting inappropriate human resource practices that need to be altered
• Developing a talent pool

Question 6

State the factors needed to enhance the creation and implementation of HR plans

Answer 6

• Plans should be viewed as flexible
• Plans should be reviewed regularly
• All stakeholders should be involved in the planning process
• Planning should be owned and driven by senior managers rather than HR specialists
• HR Plans should be linked to business and HR strategy
• The plans should be User-friendly and not overly complex
• Where necessary plan on an issue-by-issue basis

Question 7

What is a traditional manpower plan?

Answer 7

It is a plan that focuses mainly on the demand and supply of labour, not taking into consideration, planning for soft issues such as organisational culture.

Question 8

State the difference between a traditional manpower plan and an integrated HR plan

Answer 8

Unlike the traditional Manpower Planning, the integrated HR planning covers a number of people and skills and also encompasses structure, culture, systems and behaviour

Question 9

State the types of HR plans

Answer 9

Talent plans
Organisation and structure plans
Employee utilisation plans
Learning and development plans
Performance and motivation plans
Reward plans
Employee relations plans
Communications plans
Succession Plans