How can you use the Workforce Planning decision making model for more effective workforce-oriented decisions?

1 What is the Workforce Planning decision making model?

The Workforce Planning decision making model is a framework that guides you through the steps of workforce planning in a systematic and logical way. It consists of four phases: analysis, strategy, implementation, and evaluation. Each phase has specific activities and tools that help you collect and analyze data, define and prioritize objectives, design and execute interventions, and monitor and measure results. The model is flexible and adaptable to different contexts and scenarios, and it can be applied at different levels of your organization, such as departmental, functional, or enterprise-wide.

3 How to use the Workforce Planning decision making model?

The Workforce Planning decision making model is not a one-time exercise, but a continuous cycle that requires regular review and adjustment. To use the model, you need to analyze your current workforce profile and capabilities, as well as your future workforce demand and supply. Utilize various data sources, such as workforce demographics, skills inventories, performance reviews, business plans, and market trends to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Then define your workforce goals and objectives based on the analysis findings and business priorities. You must determine the gap between the current and desired workforce state, consider the potential impact of strategies and prioritize them according to urgency and importance. During implementation, execute the action plans according to the strategy. Assign roles and responsibilities, allocate budgets and timelines, communicate with stakeholders, manage change and risks. Make sure that your workforce interventions are aligned with organizational policies and practices. Lastly, monitor and measure the outcomes of your efforts using surveys, interviews, metrics and dashboards. Collect feedback and lessons learned to improve future workforce planning activities.

5 What are the challenges of using the Workforce Planning decision making model?

Using the Workforce Planning decision making model can also pose some challenges, such as dealing with data quality and availability issues, such as incomplete or inaccurate data. It’s important to balance the short-term and long-term perspectives, as well as aligning the workforce planning with the business planning. Securing the leadership and stakeholder support is also necessary, including obtaining commitment from the senior management and key workforce groups. Lastly, managing the workforce planning resources and risks is essential, such as allocating sufficient time, money, and people to the process, while mitigating potential risks like turnover or litigation.