Evaluate the importance of workforce planning to C4T's future success.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [Note] Importance must be to C4T.
2. [Note] If comment made on impact on employees, then this should be linked to what it may mean for the business.
3. [Knowledge] Definition and importance of workforce planning, e.g. looking at future business needs to identify workforce skills and needs. Provides a plan for recruitment needs.
4. [Knowledge] Helps determine types of employee contracts required based on workforce needs
5. [Knowledge] Link between employee performance and workforce planning
6. [Knowledge] Link between workforce planning and employee training
7. [Knowledge] Planning where and how employees are to be used
8. [Application] C4T workers may well be in 'first job'
9. [Application] Nature of work may be relatively low skilled, but opportunities in design and/or ideas?
10. [Application] Organic nature of business growth has led to lack of planning
11. [Application] Reference to quality issues from the case – reject products, wasted resources
12. [Application] Training is important for the young workers in this social enterprise
13. [Application] Need for more flexibility in both old and extended factory
14. [Application] Reference to new factory – maybe more automation, different skills required, need for high productivity levels
15. [Application] Likely to be labour intensive operations
16. [Application] Special order requires reorganising production workers
17. [Analysis] Identification of workforce needs in terms of numbers and skills will help C4T operations be efficient and ensure that there is no shortage of workers with the right skills which would otherwise disrupt production and lead to delays.
18. [Analysis] New extension will require more workers, possibly with different skills, so C4T needs to plan for this change to avoid disruption
19. [Analysis] Possible workforce planning approaches can be developed, e.g. the mix of flexible versus permanent contracts required and how this might reduce costs.
20. [Analysis] Need for high productivity levels means that different contracts which offer greater flexibility needed in new factory.
21. [Evaluation] Essential to organise workforce better to improve future performance in terms of operations
22. [Evaluation] Workforce planning can only be effective if linked in closely with the firm's long-term objectives
23. [Evaluation] Without a workforce plan C4T may fail to meet customer demands
24. [Evaluation] Meaning of performance in this social enterprise context:
25. [Evaluation] C4T objectives will be important, e.g. employ as many people as possible or maximise productivity