What is Manpower Planning? Example, with Importance!

Manpower planning helps in ensuring that an organization has the right kind of employees in sufficient numbers doing the right kind of job. It also makes sure that the employees doing a particular job are capable of performing the job efficiently and effectively. Coleman has described the process as “The process of determining manpower requirements and the means for meeting those requirements to carry out the integrated plan of the organization”. Also learn, about International and Comparative Human Resource Management.

Define, What is Manpower Planning? Example, with Importance!

Manpower Planning which is also called Human Resource Planning consists of putting the right number of people, right kind of people at the right place, right time, doing the right things for which they are suiting for the achievement of goals of the organization. Human Resource Planning has got an important place in the arena of industrialization. Human Resource Planning has to be a systems approach and carry out in a set procedure.

Definition of Manpower Planning!

Manpower planning is the process of estimating the optimum number of people required for completing a project, task, or goal within time. Manpower planning includes parameters like the number of personnel, different types of skills, period, etc. It is a never-ending continuous process to make sure that the business has the optimized resources available when required taking into consideration the upcoming future projects and also the replacement of the outgoing employees. It is also called Human Resource Planning.

Large businesses often work on forecasting and upcoming opportunities in the pipeline. If these opportunities convert into an actual business, they would need manpower to start working on them. But the dilemma is that what if they hired a large number of people to work on an almost sure project but at the last moment the project didn’t start on time. What would the business do with the additional skilled manpower? The other dilemma is that if they kept waiting until the last moment for a project and when the project starts they might not have enough manpower to work and deliver. These questions solving by the process of manpower planning.

Manpower planning also includes the details of how and when will new employees acquire. This whole process is done keeping in view the goals of the organization. The future predictions for business and changing technology trends. This helps the organization prepare for the future with the correct manpower at its disposal for business prosperity.

Example of Manpower Planning!

IT companies are often facing the business problem of hiring the right people for upcoming projects as well as attrition. These companies have multiple projects going on at a single time and upcoming projects in the pipeline. If they hire more people without planning they would end up with many resources on the bench which would eat into profits and if they keep waiting until the last. They would not have enough skilled people to set up the project and start delivering eventually leading to customer dissatisfaction and losses.

So these companies keep on forecasting and planning as per the market requirements, latest skillset, and their project pipeline. Most of the time, hired resources cannot be productive straight away so they need to train them which would require further planning and time.

Importance of Manpower Planning!

Manpower planning is an essential requirement for any business. It helps the company to prepare well in advance for the type of employees. They would require in their organization in the future. With constantly changing business requirements, technological advancements, etc. The skills and knowledge of employees tend to become obsolete over some time. Also, if a business is growing, then the workforce needs to expand. If the company wants to have its business at different locations, different business domains, etc. If a company fails to prepare beforehand. It can create issues in the future and can collapse the business model for a company. Hence, timely preparation of manpower planning would always help a business grow.