Workforce Planning and Employment – Patricia Schuler and Susan Jackson

Workforce planning and employment refers to the process of identifying, acquiring, and retaining the right people with the right skills and competencies in an organization. It involves strategic planning, recruitment, selection, and retention strategies to ensure that an organization has the necessary talent to achieve its goals.

Patricia Schuler and Susan Jackson are two renowned scholars in the field of workforce planning and employment. Schuler is a professor of human resource management at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She has conducted extensive research on global human resource management and workforce diversity. Jackson, on the other hand, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University. Her research focuses on employee adaptability and organizational change and how it affects employee well-being and performance.

In their book, Strategic Human Resource Management, Schuler and Jackson provide a comprehensive and integrated view of workforce planning and employment. They argue that workforce planning is not just a subset of human resource management, but rather a strategic function that can have a significant impact on an organization’s success.

The authors emphasize the importance of aligning workforce planning with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. They recommend a proactive approach to anticipate future talent needs and develop strategies to address them. This includes conducting a thorough analysis of the organization’s workforce demographics, skills, and competencies, as well as the external labor market.

Schuler and Jackson highlight the importance of effective recruitment and selection practices in workforce planning. They suggest using multiple channels to attract a diverse pool of candidates and implementing rigorous selection processes to ensure the best fit for the organization.

The authors also discuss the critical role of employee retention in workforce planning. They suggest that organizations should focus on creating a positive work environment, providing development opportunities, and implementing effective performance management systems to retain top talent.

In conclusion, Schuler and Jackson’s work on workforce planning and employment highlights the importance of strategic human resource management in achieving organizational success. Their research and insights provide valuable guidance for organizations looking to develop effective workforce planning and employment strategies.