Why Conduct an Environmental Scan?

Workforce Planning

Organisations worldwide are faced with myriad challenges presented by an ageing workforce,
technology advancements, population shifts, educational trends, work/life balance issues, the
baby boomer bulge, contingent workers, the rise of Generations X and Y, all of which affect
their largest single expense item – their staff.

Strategic workforce development is crucial if organisations wish to leverage their investment in

their staff to the greatest possible degree.

Strategic workforce development is the people component of business strategy and business
plans; a process that organisations use to define and deliver the people needed to execute their
strategy.

Strategic workforce development allows organisations to swiftly and intelligently position

themselves for changing conditions, and to maximise options for the future, by ensuring that
the right people are in place to execute the strategy.

Strategic workforce development allows organisations to design and target their future
workforce and the programs and practices which will get the workforce they need in place and
on time. Strategic workforce development responds to fundamental organisation challenges -
the things that keep executive teams awake at night.

Strategic planning for the future of any organization requires that the people involved have a
broad and deep understanding of their current environment. Conducting an environmental
scan is a commonly used process that involves gathering information about demographic,
economic, industry/workforce, socio-cultural, and education factors.

The process of conducting an environmental scan helps develop a common perception;

identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; and draws on both internal and
external information. This information can be used to help provide a base from which progress
can be measured, gather consensus about where the organization is going, and ensure effective
use of the consortium’s resources.