Question

CASE STUDY SUSTAINING TALENT WITH STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLANNING SOFTWARE AT THE ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD

At the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), an independent and quasi- judicial agency of the Government of Alberta, a key challenge for this not-for-profit organization includes recruiting and retaining talent.
The ERCB regulates approximately 1500 oil and gas companies and manages a budget of approximately $175 million. Given the demographic profile of the ERCB's approximately 1000 employees, the ERCB expects the departure of 300 employees due to retirements alone in the next five years. In addition, the ERCB has an estimated average loss of 80 people per year for other reasons. To address the looming labour shortage, the ERCB undertook a strategic workforce planning (SWP) initiative. According to Susan Cassidy, Manager of Human Resources at ERCB, SWP is about determining actions we need to take today to provide the workforce we need for tomorrow. It is taking the steps today to ensure we have the right people, in the right job, with the right skills, at the right time.
Part of ensuring the ERCB can meet workforce requirements of the future includes going through a process of SWP and analyzing how technology can assist As in that process in a strategic way, a challenge often faced by HR departments.33 Cassidy indicates, Data collection is an essential component of workforce plan- ning. Collecting data and turning it into management information that can be acted upon is the essence of SWP. Acquiring the appropriate software was a necessary step to achieve this level of data collection. The ERCB solicited request for pro- posals from potential outside providers and settled on Aruspex, a niche provider of SWP. Costing about $85 000 annually, Aruspex software works to collect relevant data, creating scenarios and generating reports to help address development plans and sustainability strategies. Essentially, Aruspex provides more than anecdotal evidence-it provides good information that is creditable.
The adoption of strategic workforce planning suggests a shift from manpower planning, which includes headcounts and forecasting used for budgetary purposes, to strategic planning, which looks at replacement and succession from a holistic perspective-using technology as a leveraging tool. As Cassidy indicates, Technology has gone beyond Excel spreadsheets which were associated with 'manpower plan- ning' and we realized more was needed.
Strategic workforce planning is one example of how the HR function might be improved by information technology. In this case we see that software assists with the ERCB being able to meet the needs of the future. How might IT be leveraged in other areas of HR for the ERCB and perhaps other organizations?

Answer 1

Strategic workforce planning at ERCB highlights the vital role of IT in HR functions by improving data collection and strategic decision-making for talent management. IT can further enhance HR through systems for recruitment, performance management, and learning, thereby facilitating thoughtful investments in human capital and ensuring readiness for future workforce needs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The adoption of strategic workforce planning (SWP) at the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) illustrates how information technology (IT) can be leveraged to facilitate human resources (HR) processes. IT solutions, like the Aruspex software used by ERCB, enable organizations to collect relevant data, create scenarios, and generate reports that are indispensable for strategic decision-making regarding talent acquisition, development, and retention.

Apart from SWP software, IT can be integrated into other HR areas through systems for online recruitment, employee self-service portals, performance management systems, and learning management systems (LMS). These technologies enhance HR functions by streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, and providing valuable insights for human capital investments. Governments and organizations are recognizing the need for further investment in IT to upgrade the HR function, ensuring alignment with ecological sustainability, and enabling a workforce that is agile, skilled, and ready for future challenges.