Effective Succession Planning: Ensuring Leadership Continuity and Building Talent from Within - Hardcover

Rothwell, William J

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814414168 ISBN 13: 9780814414163

Publisher: AMACOM, 2010

Synopsis

Organizations that don't take steps to plan for future talent needs at all levels, will face certain disruptions, and even disasters, when key employees leave. Still the most comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject, this new edition of Effective Succession Planning presents strategies for creating a complete, systematic succession planning program.

Updated and expanded to reflect the latest trends and best practices in succession management, the book contains 20% new material, including chapters on recruitment and retention as part of succession planning, as well as updated references and research. The book also includes a CD-Rom filled with worksheets, assessment tools, and training guides...everything readers need to help lead their organizations into the future.

About this title

About the Author

Jerry S. Wilson (Atlanta, GA) is a noted speaker and senior vice president at The Coca-Cola Company.

Ira Blumenthal (Atlanta, GA) is a highly respected brand consultant, author, speaker, and university educator who has counseled high-profile brand clients such as Coca-Cola, Disney, Marriott, Nestlé, and American Airlines.

From the Back Cover

Let’s say tomorrow morning your most valuable executive announced that she was leaving to accept a similar position elsewhere. What if you had to cope with the loss of certain key members of the management team you’ve come to rely on? Are there certain technical or specialized positions at your company with only one person who knows how to do them? Is your organization prepared for the loss of your most crucial players? In short: Do you have a rock-solid succession plan in place?

The most comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject, now updated and expanded to reflect the latest trends and best practices, the fourth edition of Effective Succession Planning provides you with the tools and guidance you need to revamp your succession strategy, create and put in place a new one, and arm yourself against the trauma of personnel shakeups…all without missing a beat.

Praise for Previous Editions of Effective Succession Planning:

“...A valuable resource.” — HR Professional

“If you’re leading the succession planning charge in your company, you can find most anything you need to know in this book.” — Training magazine

“Rothwell, through his aggressive research and a systematic approach to succession planning, has developed a guide for today’s leaders and HR managers on how to be prepared to deal with changes in key human capital.” — Patrick E. Gerity, Ph.D., Executive Director, State System University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania

“This book is practical, readable, and highly useful to anyone seeking long-term solutions to the succession planning dilemma.” — Stephen B. King, Ph.D., Executive Director, Leadership and Management Development, Management Concepts

“Dr. Rothwell brings the practices of succession planning into the fifth generation in this new book. Practitioners and others who are faced with planning and implementing state-of-the-art succession planning programs in organizations will find this to be a must-have resource.” — David D. Dubois, Ph.D., President, DuBois & Associates, and author of Competency-Based Performance Improvement

“Rothwell brings succession planning into proper perspective for organizations. From an in-depth strategic viewpoint to an operational, applications-based approach, the author has captured and delivered a compre­hensive approach to succession planning.” — Dr. Robert K. Prescott, SPHR, Director, Management Development Institute, Eckerd College, affiliate of the Center for Creative Leadership

“This book equipped me with the skill set I needed to create and implement an effective succession plan for my organization. I found the activities and practical guides and tips extremely helpful for making my succession planning initiative a reality. This will make a huge difference in our ability to retain and develop our employees.” — Marsha King, Ph.D., Senior Management Development Consultant, Capital One Financial

From the Inside Flap

When an employee leaves, there s more at stake for your organization than just an open position that needs to be filled. Every company s heart and soul not to mention its bottom line is dependent on the collective wisdom of its people. If you fail to plan for the sudden absence of those who have either been groomed to continue their ascent up the ladder or those whose knowledge you simply can t function without consistent leadership and institutional memory can get lost in the shuffle.

Every serious organization needs a succession plan. And now as baby-boomers retire en masse and companies of every size and type feel the various effects of globalization, the economy, and other factors it is more necessary than ever to be prepared for change. In this extensively updated fourth edition, Effective Succession Planning provides the tools you need to establish, revitalize, or revise your own succession planning and management (SP&M) program. You ll learn how to:

Identify competencies and clarify organizational values for both planning and managing a succession program.

Plan for and quickly fill crucial vacancies at all levels from top management to sales, administrative, technical, and production positions.

Develop and retain top talent, building and preserving your organization s intellectual capital.

Assess current needs and future resources for seamless succession planning.

Use the latest technology to organize and implement succession planning and management programs.

Incorporating the results of two extensive new surveys, and including a Quick Start Guide to help begin immediate implementation as well as a CD-ROM packed with assessments, checklists, customizable guides, and other practical tools this essential resource reflects the latest trends and best practices in succession management.

The book presents enlightening case studies illustrating what your organization can do to ensure seamless transitions when key employees retire, are lured away by competitors, or leave for a host of other reasons. You ll learn how to make the business case for succession planning and management; become acquainted with the characteristics of effective programs and common mistakes to avoid; discover how to set priorities, clarify roles, write policies and procedures, and address legal issues; and much more.

In addition, the book features new sections on identifying and assessing competencies and future needs; management vs. technical succession planning; ethics and conduct; and new chapters on integrating recruitment and retention strategies with succession planning programs.

This long-trusted guide reveals how your company can defend itself with a succession plan that consists of ongoing evaluation and revision, early action steps in the face of change, and a consistent plan for evaluating and promoting talent from within, while also optimizing the outside-search process for possible new hires.

Packed with forms, tools, examples, and guidance, this is an essential resource for any organization concerned with retaining the accumulated wisdom built up over time by its most valued employees.

WILLIAM J. ROTHWELL is Professor of Workplace Learning and Performance in the Workforce Education and Development program on the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University, and the President of Rothwell & Associates, a business consultancy with mor

Edition details

• Publisher: AMACOM
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814414168
• ISBN 13: 9780814414163
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 450