How Can I Use Games or Skits to Teach Manpower Planning Strategies Effectively?

Hi all,

This is Shweta, and I am currently working on a program of training on core HR skills. While working on the same, I got stuck at one point. That is on the practical aspects of some topics such as Manpower planning. I request my seniors to provide guidelines on how I can train with the help of a game, skit, or any simulation for manpower planning strategy.

Regards,
Shweta

Manpower Planning: A Broader Perspective

It is a mistaken view to say that manpower planning requires training. The second mistaken view is that every topic or subject can be learned through games only.

Manpower planning requires a study of your systems and processes. It is more a matter of consulting than training as such. Manpower planning depends on (a) capacity, (b) demand, and (c) skills of the people. However, this is a very broad categorization.

For example, in a restaurant, the number of chairs (number of covers in hotelier's language) determines how many waiters you should have. The number of waiters determines the number of captains. In star hotels, the number of rooms determines the requirement of housemen, room service staff, etc. However, both examples depend on market demand as well.

In the courier and logistics industry, you need to maintain the manpower whether there is demand or not. For example, the number of deliveries made cannot be the sole criterion for deciding the number of couriers. This is because the traffic situation also needs to be considered. In big cities, at certain places, commercial vehicles move at 5-10 KM/hour. The manpower required depends on the volume of load to be picked up. You need to have sufficient loaders depending on the load.

Therefore, there is no generalization, and manpower planning will differ from one industry to another, one product to another, one city to another, etc.

Regards,
Dinesh Divekar

Dear Mr. Diwakar,

Thank you for your valuable input. However, sir, my focus audience is fresh MBA students who need guidance on each topic as they begin their careers. To make the topics more interesting and digestible, it would be beneficial to incorporate real-time case studies in a simulation format, etc.

If you or any of my seniors have any ideas to share or agree with my perspective, kindly provide valuable input.

Regards,
Shweta

Some learning takes place best through hands-on mentoring/coaching. Ask yourself, is training the best option (i.e., most effective)? What are the other alternatives available? Would hands-on "on-the-job" training be able to inculcate the learning process? Also, do you have the numbers of learners to carry out classroom training?

Some thoughts from me... CTFoo