Introduction to the Special Issue on Workforce Planning, with a Particular Focus on Succession Planning Issues as a Result of or Relating to the Aging of the Workforce

Abstract

I was a history major in college. We were told repeatedly that the value in studying history was to learn from the wisdom and mistakes of the past to guide us in approaching the challenges of the present. When we candidly confront the demographic challenges of an aging workforce that are facing us today, we quickly realize that history provides us with little guidance. For the first time in the history of humankind, the older segments of the population are growing at much faster rates than the younger segments of the population. Rather than repeating history, we are now creating history. Confronting the challenges of this demographic shift will require a reorientation of our thinking and our practice. Anyone who has tried to bring about fundamental change within an organization, however, has quickly recognized that resistance to changing entrenched ideas and ways of solving problems is very strong. Yet, our old assumptions and techniques for workforce and succession planning will no longer continue to serve us well. As explorers and adventurers in history, we are embarking on an unknown journey. Whether as an organizational leader, a public policy developer, a human resources professional or a member of this aging cohort of workers, we will be exploring this demographic challenge together. In this special issue we have assembled original articles to address the wide spectrum of organizational challenges associated with workforce and succession planning for an aging workforce. Rather than presuming to solve this challenge, though, our purpose is to stimulate ideas and dialogue. To initiate this important discussion, these articles will provide you with background, perspective, and descriptions of our initial attempts at confronting this challenge. This topic is approached from both a research and an applied perspective. We are fortunate and honored to have had our opening article written by the Hon. David M. Walker who is comptroller general of the United States. In his article he alerts us to the reality that this demographic challenge will ultimately affect all of us as Americans. Specifically, he examines how the U.S. Government Accountability Office has undertaken a range of initiatives designed to strengthen its workforce and better position the agency for the future. We should all take great comfort that this essential government agency is addressing the need for government agencies to rethink what they do and how they do business. Another article, written by Dr. …