Headcount Planning Guide

Headcount planning has a lot of moving parts, and it is unclear who is responsible for leading the process.
The disconnect between HR and Finance results in a non-holistic approach to data analysis and an incomplete representation of stakeholder priorities.

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Our Advice

Critical Insight

The main goal of headcount planning is to determine the right number of jobs and positions required to achieve organizational goals while adhering to budget constraints. Without collaboration between HR and Finance, there are missed opportunities to effectively achieve that goal.
HR’s involvement in all the steps of headcount planning aligns stakeholders, brings focus and clarity to the process, and gives a larger perspective to the individual steps.

Impact and Result

Conduct a strategic and effective headcount planning process that incorporates people and the financial perspective, leading to a holistic headcount plan.

Headcount Planning Guide Research & Tools

1. Prepare to draft a headcount plan

Identify stakeholder responsibilities and gather data to inform the headcount plan.

2. Engage with stakeholders to draft and finalize the headcount plan

Collaborate with stakeholders to create, evaluate, and submit the headcount plan for approval.

3. Communicate and iterate the headcount plan

Communicate the headcount plan and identify impacts on HR programs.

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A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your HR problems.

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Guided Implementation 1: Prepare to draft a headcount plan.

Call 1: Discuss stakeholder responsibilities in the headcount planning process.
Call 2: Gather and review data on organizational goals, strategy, and workforce costs.

Guided Implementation 2: Engage with stakeholders to draft and finalize the headcount plan

Call 1: Gather headcount request data from department leaders.
Call 2: Evaluate headcount requests.
Call 3: Roll up requests to create an organizational level plan that aligns with strategy and budget.

Guided Implementation 3: Communicate and iterate the headcount plan

Call 1: Craft a communication plan to share the headcount plan with department leaders.
Call 2: b. Identify how the headcount plan impacts other HR programs.