Human Resource Planning(HRP): Features, Need, and Importance

Feature or Characteristics of HRP

The features or characteristics of Human Resource Planning (HRP) are as follows-

1. Balance staffing: HRP provides a proper balance in the organizational job positions. If there is any vacant position in the organization, it will search for the best available person to fill the place from within or outside the organization.

2. Optimum utilization of resources: The best resource which an organization have is its manpower. Human Resource Planning develop this men power at its best in terms of efficiency which later utilizes the other resources available in the organization to achieve the goals. Hence, HRP results in optimum utilization of resources.

3. Having men power inventory: There are several departments in an organization which heads several employees under it which have several skills and abilities. These employees coordinate with each other for the achievement of the objectives of the organization. Human Resource Planning helps in creating this large inventory of men power.

4. Adjusting demand/supply: HRP estimates the number of manpower required in the organization to continue its operations and then searches for the prospective employee who with his service can provide the best value to the organization. In this way, HRP matches the demand and supply of manpower in the organization.

5. Creating a healthy environment: Organizational objectives are accomplished by the integrated efforts and value of time which employees provide to the organization. Hence, it is the moral duty of the organization to fulfil all their needs and provide the best atmosphere for their work. Here, HRP helps in creating the best possible environment for the employees by providing them with the best tools and equipment, guidance, emotional support and hand-holding in the tough time.

6. Complementary to Organizational planning: An Organization is operated by its employees and hence the efforts to achieve the objectives of the organization are also made by the employees. So, there will be no organization if there is no employee. Hence, Human Resource Planning is complementary to organizational planning.

7. Continuous process: Human Resource Planning is a continuous process. There is a cycle of hiring and firing of employees which keep continuously moving just like the cycle of life and death. An employee once hired in the organization cannot work for their whole life. They have to leave the organization at some point due to retirement, death, change in job, fired due to poor work etc. Therefore, Organizations continuously hire new employees on a regular basis to continue their operations.

8. Future-oriented: HRP is a future-oriented process and is always ready to face any new change in the future within or outside the organization and continuously and develops the organizational men power as per those future needs and requirements.

Need for Human Resource Planning(HRP)

The need for Human Resource Planning (HRP) are as follows-

1. Identification of the right person in the right place: The Right person is identified and placed in the right place according to the knowledge and skills he acquired, and work towards the achievement of organizational objectives.

2. Technological changes in a rapid way: Technology is changing with the lightning speed. Therefore, It is must for the organization to hire fresh talent who knew about the current trends in technology and have the necessary skills to work on it.

3. Shortage of employees & skills: HRP helps to fill the gap of employees and skills in the organization with quality manpower to achieve goals faster.

4. Replacement of persons: By identifying the right person at the right time and at the right place, HRP provides the best replacement of persons in the organization.

5. Labour turnover: HRP reduce the labour turnover by providing the best manpower in the organization also inspiring the existing ones to perform with their full efficiency to survive and grow in the competitive environment.

6. Improvement in quality of life & quality of work life:  Organization plans and provides its employees with the best quality tools, equipment, machines and environment possible to enhance the quality of their life. With the help of human resource planning,  organizations do it for their employees.

7. Proper evaluation and appraisal system: HRP provides a proper evaluation and appraisal system which helps to check the status of work of employees. With this system, efficient employees are praised for their work and inefficient employees are trained to achieve more.

Importance of Human Resource Planning(HRP)

The importance of Human Resource Planning are as follows-

1.   Developing the Men power: It focuses on building a great men power to support organizational mission and to achieve its objectives.

2.   Enhancement in the skills and capabilities of the employees: HRP also focuses on the continuous development of employees. Therefore, organizations conduct various training sessions, seminars, conferences etc. to enhance the overall skills and capabilities of its employees.

3.   Effective utilization of resources: The greatest resource which an organization have is its manpower. Therefore, with the help of HRP, organizations try to utilize their full potential towards its goals and develop them as an asset for the future requirement of the organization.

4.   Increased efficiency and effectiveness of employees: Due to HRP, organizations provide a great working environment to its employees along with the best tools and equipment possible. This motivates the employees to work harder in the competitive working atmosphere of the organization to achieve their targets and objectives.

5.   Helps in coping the change: Organizations are always preparing for any sudden change in technology, politics, tastes and preferences etc. Therefore, they have flexibility in their objectives and train their employees to work efficiently regardless of the situations to survive and grow themselves in the changing environment.

6.   Enhancement of organizational growth and development: If the quality of employees and their work is improving continuously, the organization will itself move up on the ladder of success. Hence, HRP improves the learning of the employees to improves the earning of the organization and make the organization grow in the competitive market.

7. Increasing investments in human resources: Human Resource is the greatest asset of an organization. Any investment in its human resource will provide the highest gain to the organization. Therefore, organizations invests heavy amount on HRP to focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the employees.