What Are the Benefits of Human Resource Planning?

Different than front-line positions such as sales, human resource (HR) positions are typically responsible for strategic planning and employee development. HR planning includes recruiting plans, employee training programs, and organizational development. There are many benefits to having strong HR planning tools in place.

Human resource departments are usually responsible for recruiting new employees when positions are created or vacant. Recruiting and selecting employees is a time-consuming process that involves advertising for the open position, managing the application process, interviewing prospective candidates, and making job offers. Effective HR planning helps the company to prepare ahead of time for these vacancies rather than acting in a reactionary manner when an employee resigns unexpectedly. Another benefit of having a recruiting plan in place is that the recruiters know where to target their job search to find the best candidates. Successful recruiters plan ahead and know what skill sets (hard and soft) are essential for the right candidates, and they know how to interview effectively. Companies that include HR planning are prepared for future open positions that result from business growth and expansion.

Another benefit of HR planning is having career-development procedures, which consist of identifying future company leaders and helping them grow. This means that when an executive or manager leaves or retires, there is already someone ready to promote into the position. Retention is an important factor in successful companies because it means that promotions come from within the organization and current employees are motivated to work harder to get ahead. Career development also looks at cross-training opportunities and has career-path plans in place.

Successful HR planning includes training models and procedures. This training includes new-hire training to teach new employees about the company culture, internal databases, software, and the skill sets necessary for specific positions. The benefit of this type of training is that all employees are taught the same thing in the same manner, which creates consistency and accuracy in daily work. Other training models include information about new company initiatives, new product roll outs, and career progression classes. For example, if an employee has been successful in his current role, training may include coaching or management classes that will help him prepare for a future promotion.

Effective HR planning incorporates aspects of employee management, such as performance reviews and disciplinary procedures. Companies benefit from having these systems in place because they help managers do their jobs and prevent potential lawsuits. Standardized performance reviews help managers look for key items when reviewing and ranking subordinates and ensure that everyone is reviewed on the same scale. Standardized disciplinary procedures ensure that the rules are followed and they clearly identify their consequences when they are broken.