Discuss the need and objectives of Human Resource planning (HRP).

Discuss the need and objectives of Human Resource planning (HRP). Describe the salient features and the process of Human Resource Planning undertaken by the organization you are working in or any organization you are familiar with. Briefly describe the organization you are referring to.

WHAT IS HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING?
Human Resource Planning (HRP) may be defined as strategy for acquisition, utilization, improvement and preservation of the human resources of an enterprise. The objective is to provide right personnel for the right work and optimum utilization of the existing human resources. HRP exists as a part of the planning process of business. This is the activity of the management which is aimed at co-ordinating requirements for and the availability of different types of employers. The major activities of HRP include: forecasting (future requirements), inventorying (present strength), anticipating (comparison of present and future requirements) and planning (necessary programme to meet future requirements).
OBJECTIVES OF HRP
The objectives of HRP are mainly to:
a) Ensure optimum utilization of human resources currently employed;
b) Assess or forecast future requirements;
c) Cope up with the changing scenario;
d) Attaching with business plans of organization;
e) Anticipate redundancies;
f) Provide basis for human resource development (HRD); and
g) Assist in productivity bargaining.
Benefits of HRP
Proper HRP results into a number of benefits. Some of them are:
a) Create reservoir of talent.
b) Preparation for future HR needs.
c) Promote employees in a systematic manner.
d) Provide basis for HRD.
e) Help in career and succession planning.
Need for HRP at Macro Level
Major reasons for the emphasis on HRP at macro level include:
Employment-Unemployment Situation:
Though in general the number of educated unemployed is on the rise, there is acute shortage for a variety of skills. This emphasises the need for more effective recruitment and retaining people.
Technological Changes:
The myriad changes in production technologies, marketing methods and management techniques have been extensive and rapid. Their effect has been profound on job contents and job contexts. These changes cause problems relating to redundancies, retraining and redeployment. All these suggest the need to plan manpower needs intensively and systematically.
Organizational Changes:
In the turbulent environment marked by cyclical fluctuations and discontinuities, the nature and pace of changes in organizational environment, activities and structures affect manpower requirements and require strategic considerations.
Demographic Changes:
The changing profile of the work force in terms of age, sex, litercy, technical inputs and social background have implications for HRP.


Skill Shortages:
Unemployment does not mean that the labour market is a buyer’s market. Organizations have generally become more complex and require a wide range of specialist skills that are rare and scarce. Problems arise when such employees leave.
Governmental Influences:
Government control and changes in legislation with regard to affirmative action for disadvantaged groups, working conditions and hours of work restrictions on women and child employment, casual and contract labout, etc. have stimulated the organizations to become involved in systematic HRP.
Legislative Controls:
The days of executive fiat and ‘hire and fire’ policies are gone. Now legislation makes it difficult to reduce the size of an organization quickly and cheaply. It is easy to increase but difficult to shed the fat in terms of the numbers employed because of recent changes in labour law relating to lay-offs and closures. Those responsible for managing manpower must look far ahead and thus attempt to foresee manpower problems.
Impact of Pressure Groups:
Pressure groups such as unions, politicians and persons displaced from land by location of giant enterprises have been raising contradictory pressures on enterprise management such as internal recruitment and promotions, preference to employees’ children, is place persons, sons of the soil etc.
Systems Concept:
The spread of systems thinking and the advent of the macrocomputer as part of the on-going revolution in information technology which emphasises planning and newer ways of handling voluminous personnel records.

Lead Time:
The long lead time is necessary in the selection process and for training and deployment of the employee to handle new knowledge and skills successfully.


PROCESS OF HRP
The process of HRP is entirely based on the corporate plans and objectives. HRP is a continuous process of review, control and assessment. Figure 1 clearly indicates the
HRP process.



The major stages of HRP are as follows:

a) Analysing Operational Plans
It consists of the following substages:
i) Objectives and strategic plans of the company are analyzed.
ii) Plans concerning technological, finance, production are analyzed and HRP is prepared keeping these in mind.
iii) Future plans, goals, and objectives of the company are also taken into account.

b) Human Resource Demand Forecasting
HR demand forecasting mainly involves three sub functions:

i) Demand Forecast:
Process of estimating future quantity and quality of human resources required.

ii) Manpower Gaps:
Depending upon the requirement existing surplus human resources having desired skills are matched, if not found then shortage is shown.

iii) Supply Forecast:
Basing on the existing HR inventory and the demand forecast, the supply forecast of human resources is carried out in an organization.

PROBLEMS IN HRP PROCESS
The main problems in the process of HRP are as follows:

a) Inaccuracy: HRP is entirely dependent on the HR forecasting and supply, which cannot be a cent per cent accurate process.

b) Employee resistance: Employees and their unions feel that by HRP, their workload increases so they resist the process.
c)Uncertainties: Labour absenteeism, labour turnover, seasonal employment, technological changes and market fluctuations are the uncertainties which HRP process might have to face.

d) Inefficient information system: In Indian industries, HRIS is not much strong. In the absence of reliable data it is not possible to develop effective HRP.

e) Time and expense: HRP is time consuming and expensive exercice, so industries avoid.