OED Succession Planning

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Created in response to the potential retirement of up to 37% of senior leaders by 2011, the OED Succession Planning Program (SPP) identifies potential candidates for positions considered critical to organizational success, and assures each candidate has targeted, individual development plans to prepare them to be viable candidates for future vacancies. This program marked the first formal process initiated to offer strategic career development aligned with future organizational leadership needs. The SPP operated on an amazing budget of less than $100 per participant, has been incredibly successful in its first year of operation. 92% of participants are creating an individual development plan, 84% of key positions identified have candidates who will be ready to take over in 5 years or less, and 64% of those positions have two or more viable internal candidates. Unique features of the program include its core developmental philosophy based on the foundation of organizational values, its use of a 360-degree instrument as a feedback tool and the program’s global focus, which ties candidate developmental activities to established organizational initiatives, addressing both individual and organizational needs.