Manpower Planning

Manpower Planning

Manpower planning, or human resource planning, is one of the most important functions of modern management.

Manpower planning is the process by which an organization ensures that it has the right number

and kinds of people capable of effectively and efficiently completing those tasks that are indirect support of the company’s mission and strategic goals.

Manpower planning can be placed into three major categories: short-term, intermediate-term and long-term. Each of these types has its own significance and importance.

Types of Manpower Planning

Four Phases

• At all points, manpower planning has four "phases": gathering and analyzing data, establishing objectives, designing and implementing programs, and monitoring and evaluating these programs. These phases play an important role in every type of manpower planning, but often in different ways.

Short-Term Manpower Planning

• Short-term manpower planning refers to staffing needs in the near future. It mainly involves a keen awareness of demand and supply, that is, an awareness of what positions need to be filled and who in the workforce is available to fill those positions. Usually, it is much easier to establish objective at this point in manpower planning. These objectives usually involve how to attract desirable employees and how to get rid of undesirable ones. Short-term manpower planning programs include recruiting programs, selection programs and performance appraisal systems. Assessing the level of success at this point is usually very easy.

Intermediate-Term Manpower Planning

• Intermediate-term manpower planning involves a lot more uncertainty at every phase of manpower planning. The main question that must be asked is, "What will we need?" The task becomes less about evaluating what is available now and more about forecasting. Often, a lot of these questions are answered based upon the judgment and discretion of midlevel management. Establishing objectives in this type...