Succession planning is generally viewed as the transfer of ownership and or planning for your next leader.  Succession planning is also about knowledge transfer and developing bench strength throughout your organization. Whether succession planning is limited in focus or more all encompassing, only 5 % of companies have an effective succession plan. Succession planning therefore can create a strategic competitive advantage.

The problem is where to begin. We would like to suggest several key questions and answers to get you started.

Question 1: How do we know what we have in the way of people and skills sets to fill successive layers within our company?

Answer: Succession planning assessment is a great place to start. A succession planning tool will enable you to determine your bench strength, and more specifically assess the specific skills your employees possess against specific positional skills sets. Succession planning assessment and associated succession planning tools enable you to select perspective candidates for succession in a more scientific and less subjective manner.

Question 2: If our organization has already targeted a number of number key personnel for succession, how do we determine who is best and who through development is ready for the new challenge? 

Answer:    Start with succession planning assessment. If you measure present skill sets as a base line it will allow you and the perspective candidates to understand what knowledge transfer and skill development is required. Succession planning software and succession planning tools should enable you to track performance gains and set goals in line with position succession requirements. Succession planning software and succession planning tools should allow for bench marking of individual skill gaps and overall skill gaps within your company.

Question 3: How do we select effective planning succession tools and succession planning software?

Answer:  This is not an easy question. We believe that succession planning software and planning succession tools should be employee driven and at the same time focused on the key responsibilities and skills within the positions under consideration. iView meets these key criteria. It allows for succession planning assessment in which you determine the key behaviors to be assessed.  iView as a succession planning software enables you to determine skill gaps within given positions and skill gaps for each candidate. By setting specific goals based on the generated skills report, iView enables candidates to track progress and enables the organization to make more informed decisions for succession planning purposes.

Question 4: How can succession planning assessment help with knowledge transfer?

Answer: Knowledge transfer is key to succession planning. Candidates are more likely to want to take on the challenge and risks of ownership or new positions if we can demonstrate that they have the skills to do so. Succession planning software that provides perspective candidates with meaningful assessment of required skill sets is an important first step. This information will enable the company and the individual to develop action plans leading to required knowledge transfer and skill development. If you use an effective planning succession tool, your candidate will receive feedback as to their improvements and readiness for the new position. Increased confidence in skills and in knowledge transfer will create candidates who are ready to take on the new challenge. iView is a succession planning tool that will assist you in creating a culture within your organization of taking on the next challenge.