HR Planning

It is vital for organisations to have HR plans because HR plans improve the effectiveness of organisations (Jackson, Schuler and Werner, 2009, p.101). For example, HR plans can help identify how many employees are needed in a certain organisation. In order to run an efficient business, it is important that every organisation has enough employees but not too many to make the business run inefficiently. HR plans help make sure that not only is their enough employees working in a certain business, but their also aren't too many employees working in an organisation that are costing the business any unnecessary expense. This is why it is vital for business's to have HR plans.

In this case, a problem that an organisation would have if HR plans weren't put in place would be the increased likelihood of business's employing either too few or too many people. Employing too few people would mean that the business wouldn't be able to function in certain areas properly or to it's maximum capability. Employing too many people on the other hand, would mean the business would be paying wages to people unnecessarily as they may not be needed, increasing the costs of the business.

In addition, HR planning allows business's to locate and identify talent that may be of use to the business currently or in the future [Anon 1.] [n.d.]. Since people generally leave organisations after only a few years, business's need to replace these employees that have left. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do immediately without HR planning. HR planning allows firms to predict when certain employees may leave the company giving them time to prepare replacements for them. This can prevent business's from operating without key employees. This is another reason why it is vital for business's to have HR plans.

In this case, a problem that a business would have if HR plans weren't put in place would be that employees would leave the company unexpectedly and their would be a shortage of employees in certain areas of the business e.g. marketing. This could affect the productivity and efficiency of the business since their is a shortage of manpower which in turn could affect the sales revenue and therefore profits generated.

Rodger's seven point person specification for a University lecturer:

1. Physical make-up - A University lecturer is expected to be a healthy individual that is able to physically move from room to room with ease. They should be of a reasonable height, tall enough to use black/white boards. They should dress relatively smart wearing shoes, not trainers.

2. Attainments - A University lecturer is expected to be qualified enough to teach whatever module they teach well. It's expected that University lecturer's have graduated from higher education preferably University in the past. It is also expected that the lecturer's have been trained in teaching in order to teach at a satisfactory level.

3. Intelligence - University lecturer's are expected to have a good ability to learn new things which may be of use to pupil's that they are teaching. They are also expected to have good analytical ability so pupil's can understand the material that they are taking in as easily as possible.

4. Special aptitudes - University lecturer's are expected to use IT software and equipment to a reasonable standard. This is so that they can present information on a projector, for example. In addition, they are expected to be able to use Microsoft Office programs such as PowerPoint and Word. University lecturer's teaching Maths, Accounting and other numeric related courses are also expected to have good Mathematical skills.

5. Interests - University lecturer's are expected to be social to an extent that allows pupil's to talk with them if and when necessary. University lecturer's are also encouraged to read in order to keep up to date with News that may be of use to their classes and to boost their knowledge in general.

6. Disposition - University lecturer's are expected to be mature so that they appear as good role models for their pupils. Maturity is also needed so that the lecturers can remain focused on the module that they are teaching at hand without going off topic unnecessarily. On the other hand, lecturer's are also encouraged to be humorous to an extent so that pupil's don't get bogged down in the serious nature of a particular module, which may result in de-motivation and de-satisfaction.

7. Circumstances - University lecturer's are expected to be located reasonably close to the University that they teach at so it isn't a problem travelling to and from the University five days a week. It is encouraged that lecturer's live no more than an hour's drive away from the University. Lecturer's are also expected to be able to drive so that they can get to work without having to rely on public transport that isn't always reliable which may result in cancelled classes in extreme cases of delays.

If Waitrose were considering opening a new store in High Wycombe, the key labour questions that they would need to ask would be:

1. What is the unemployment rate like in High Wycombe?

2. How competitive is the supermarket market in High Wycombe? (this may determine how many people are employed at the other supermarkets which may affect how many people Waitrose can employ).

3. How skilled/qualified is High Wycombe's population?

4. What training procedures will need to be put in place to train newly recruited employees?

5. What methods will be introduced that will retain currently employed employees.

References

[Anon 1.] [n.d.] What is the importance of human resource planning in an organisation? [online]. [s.n.] Available from: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_importance_of_human_resource_planning_in_an_organisation

[Accessed 30 January 2010].

HR planning image - http://www.ssa.vic.gov.au/CA2571410025903D/WebObj/ssa_strategydiagram/$File/ssa_strategydiagram.jpg

Jackson, S. Schuler, R. and Werner, S. (2009) Managing Human Resources. 1st ed. Ohio: South Western Cengage Learning.