Seven Steps of Effective Workforce Planning

This report introduces the Seven-Step Workforce Planning model, which provides a sound framework for understanding the basic elements of workforce planning. The model incorporates workforce planning concepts from two organizations: the International Public Management Association for Human Resources and the Office of Personnel Management. The report walks the reader through the steps involved in workforce planning, including defining the organization’s strategic direction; identifying current and future workforce needs; determining gaps; implementing strategies to close these gaps; and monitoring, evaluating, and revising the gap-closing strategies.

Using the Seven-Step Workforce Planning Model as an analytical framework, Dr. Cotton presents two case studies of workforce planning efforts in public sector organizations: the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration. She describes the challenges, success factors, and lessons learned from these two case studies.

The report also provides agency leaders and human resources directors with recommendations for successful workforce planning. Finally, the report identifies suggested strategic workforce planning performance measures-related to recruitment, employee retention, training and development, and management of employee performance.