steps in workforce planning

Question 1

what are the five steps in the workforce planning cycle

Answer 1

-forecast demand
-skills analysis of current staff
-train existing staff if possible
-hire new staff if required
-review planning cycle

Question 2

describe the first step (forecast demand)

Answer 2

The organisation analyses the potential demand for its goods/services and decides how many staff are needed and what skills are required to meet this demand. The business will need to take PESTEC factors into account

Question 3

describe the second step (skills analysis of current staff)

Answer 3

The organisation will conduct a staffing forecast to highlight if any staff are due to leave (maternity leave, retiring etc) and if there is a shortfall or surplus of staff

Question 4

describe the third step (train existing staff if possible)

Answer 4

The organisation analyses the profile of its current workforce to determine the need for new staff and the skills that need to be developed in existing staff

Question 5

describe the fourth step (hire new staff if required)

Answer 5

If there is a surplus of staff then they may have to be removed; If there is a shortfall then the organisation ‘closes the gaps’ to ensure that it has the workforce required to provide the goods/services to meet their objectives by
a) recruiting and selecting new staff,
b) training existing staff,
c) retaining existing staff through motivation methods

Question 6

describe the fifth step (review planning cycle)

Answer 6

Review process and make changes if necessary