Which term describes planning to fill key positions by developing internal candidates for future needs?

Which term describes planning to fill key positions by developing internal candidates for future needs?

• A. Head hunting
• B. Succession planning
• C. Strategic staffing
• D. Human resources

Answer: (B)

Succession planning is the process of ensuring that key positions can be filled by developing internal candidates to meet future needs. It starts by identifying critical roles and high-potential employees, then creating targeted development plans—such as mentoring, job rotations, and leadership programs—to build the skills and experience required for those roles. This prepares a ready pipeline of internal talent, helps maintain continuity, preserves institutional knowledge, and reduces disruption when a vacancy occurs. External head hunting looks outside the organization to fill roles, which skips internal development. Strategic staffing is broader, focusing on aligning the workforce with long-term goals and can include both internal and external hires, but it isn’t specifically about cultivating internal successors for key roles. Human resources refers to the department that manages people policies and programs, not the practice of developing internal successors.

Succession planning is the process of ensuring that key positions can be filled by developing internal candidates to meet future needs. It starts by identifying critical roles and high-potential employees, then creating targeted development plans—such as mentoring, job rotations, and leadership programs—to build the skills and experience required for those roles. This prepares a ready pipeline of internal talent, helps maintain continuity, preserves institutional knowledge, and reduces disruption when a vacancy occurs. External head hunting looks outside the organization to fill roles, which skips internal development. Strategic staffing is broader, focusing on aligning the workforce with long-term goals and can include both internal and external hires, but it isn’t specifically about cultivating internal successors for key roles. Human resources refers to the department that manages people policies and programs, not the practice of developing internal successors.