Evaluate the importance to APF's operational effectiveness of workforce planning.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (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.
2. [1] (Knowledge) Helps determine types of employee contracts required based on workforce needs.
3. [1] (Knowledge) Link between employee performance and workforce planning.
4. [1] (Knowledge) Link between workforce planning and employee training.
5. [1] (Knowledge) Planning where and how employees are to be used.
6. [1] (Knowledge) Core and peripheral workers.
7. [1] (Knowledge) Operational effectiveness relates to efficiency within production, capacity utilisation and being able to meet customer demands.
8. [1] (Application) Problem with labour turnover at juice factory.
9. [1] (Application) Need for seasonal employees for picking fruit.
10. [1] (Application) Perishable nature of product.
11. [1] (Application) Need for employees to meet special order from retailer.
12. [1] (Application) Harvesting fruit is labour intensive. Much of the work is seasonal.
13. [1] (Application) Shortage of skilled technicians has disrupted production.
14. [1] (Application) Planning of peripheral workers such as seasonal fruit pickers and core workers such as skilled technicians.
15. [1] (Analysis) Identification of workforce needs in terms of numbers and skills will help APF 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. Any delays to production could affect sales.
16. [1] (Analysis) Insufficient farm workers during harvesting season will result in unpicked fruit which goes to waste. Thus, costs involved in growing the fruit will not be recovered.
17. [1] (Analysis) Either strategic option will require more workers so workforce planning will help implementation of strategies and aid meeting the objectives set.
18. [1] (Analysis) Possible workforce planning approaches can be developed e.g. the mix of flexible versus permanent contracts required and how this might impact costs on fruit farms.
19. [1] (Evaluation) Judgement of the usefulness of workforce planning to operational effectiveness.
20. [1] (Evaluation) Essential to organise workforce better to improve future performance in terms of operations.
21. [1] (Evaluation) Workforce planning can only be effective if linked in closely with the firm's long-term objectives.
22. [1] (Evaluation) Without a workforce plan APF may fail to meet customer demands.
23. [1] (Evaluation) External factors may mean that workforce planning fails e.g. weather and disease impacting crop yields. Therefore, workforce planning needs to be flexible.
24. [1] (Evaluation) Internal factors such as organisational structure, leadership and motivation.