Workforce Planning: A Major Business Issue for Tesco

This report discusses the business issue of workforce planning and how Tesco, a multinational supermarket business, is addressing it. It covers the importance of workforce planning, the challenges faced by Tesco, and the strategies implemented by the company. The report also includes reflective writing on the learning experience and a personal development plan.

Academic Research
and Writing

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
Business issue of Workforce planning........................................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
Reflective writing........................................................................................................................4
PART 3............................................................................................................................................5
Personal Development Plan........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The business undergoes various functions in order to perform its activities effectively and
efficiently. These functions includes planning, directing, controlling, staffing and many other. In
order to run the business, it requires the efficient and productive staff which can take the
responsibility of taking forward the business by achieving the desired and set goals. Workforce
planning has always been a major issue for the companies as the whole business is dependent on
the workforce it is hiring which will take forward the organisation to the higher level. In order to
attain the goals and objectives of the organisation, it is important to undergo the workforce
planning so that smooth functioning is ensured (Domagała and Klich, 2018). The organisation
chosen for this report is Tesco, a multinational supermarket business which operates globally
dealing in retail merchandise and groceries. This report shall cover the issue of workforce
planning and how company is reacting to it. And further it will have reflection writing and a
Personal development plan.
PART 1
Business issue of Workforce planning
Workforce planning is referred to as the process which involves analysing, forecasting
and the planning of the workforce demand and supply so that gaps are assessed and target talent
is determined so that organisation can recruit right candidate at right place with the right skills.
Workforce planning is the major part of the human resource strategic. It basically deals in how
business needs are to be aligned with the needs of the workforce so that smooth functioning of
the business is ensured. In this talent based economy, the employees are the assets of the
companies , but despite this fact the organisations fail to plan, measure and optimise them which
give rise to the issue of workforce planning (Fraher and Brandt, 2019). Tesco is a global
company which requires effective workforce planning so that its staff is recruited at right place
with right talent in order to attain the business objectives.
Workforce planning generally involves the business needs, skills required for fulfilling
those needs, how to recruit and retain the skilled personnel and lastly the succession planning
when the existing workforce leave. It has been a major issue as it has become a challenge for the
organisation to find the high quality applicants with the right set of skills and the lack of
succession planning fails the companies in adequate workforce planning. There are many factors

which affect the company Tesco in effectively planning its workforce which includes the
following- Technology which involves, for instance how mobile phones and computers will help in
communicating with the staff. Globalisation, which needs planning to enter the global market with efficient employees.
 Outsourcing where it is important to take a note of the source skills which may include
permanent staff or independent contractors which is more helpful for the company (Dai
and Liu, 2020). And many other factors.
Tesco operates in 12 countries and requires an effective workforce planning. It needs
both store and non store based staff to ensure that all employees work to drive the objectives of
the company. Tesco does talent planning in order to encourage the individuals to work in their
ways. It takes the workforce planning positively and work annually on this issue in order to
retain the talented staff and recruit the skilled employees in order to take forward its operations
in the global marketplace. This planning is reviewed 3 times in a year so that it can get sufficient
flexibility and time to meet its demand for the workforce (Rees and et. al., 2018). It has initiated
the 'annual appraisal scheme' under which the people can apply for the bigger jobs. In order to
implement its workforce planning, the company provides user friendly ways for the people to
apply for the jobs and carry on the consistent approach to the recruitment and selection so that it
can meet the changing demands for the employees.
PART 2
Reflective writing
Reflection is the analytical practice which describes the real experience and learning
(Sparkman, 2018). In order to complete this module, I have learned about the topic of workforce
planning and how it is important for the businesses. According to my perception, this concept is
very wide which required detailed analysis and planning. I have learned various skills which
includes time management skills. In my opinion it is very important to complete your task well
on time. In the past, I lacked time management skills and undergoing this assignment, I have
tried to develop this skill. Another skill which I learnt is problem solving skill which helped me
in solving my own queries and confusions which came in between while completing this report.
My communication skills in verbal writing were average so by undergoing this assignment, I got

to take a command on my writing skills which helped me in delivering my knowledge. The
concept of workforce planning was new to me so this assignment helped me in attaining the
knowledge regarding this topic and how the company takes this issue helped in knowing the
inner strength and weakness of the organisation.
By learning and understanding the concept of workforce planning, I think it will help me
in my professional career of becoming an HR Advisor or initiating my own business start up.
This topic has helped me in clearing my perception and built a new opinion regarding the
importance of this planning. According to my opinion, I have understand how workforce
planning contribute in successful attainment of objectives of the company. As workforce is
important part of the company, I have understood that their contribution is an exceptional one
and the organisations must plan them effectively in order to take their business to new heights.
In my future, the workforce planning will help me in performing my roles and
responsibilities as a HR Advisor. When undertaking this assignment, I have improved my
writing skills and learned time management and problem solving skills which will help me in
near future to overcome any challenge. The discipline which I have got from time management
skill will help me in lifelong future in any aspect of my career. When undergoing the future
studies, these skills will help me in crossing all the hurdle which come in between to give
excellent performance. In my perception these skills will help me performing my best in my
academics and professional career.
PART 3
Personal Development Plan
Academic skills Action Plan Future Implications
Communication/ writing skills In order to effectively develop
this skill, I will read books and
articles of experts authors so
that I can learn the technique
of writing skills. Further I will
regularly practice on my
writing skills so that I can
improve it better.
This skill will help me in my
academics as I will apply it on
my further assignments and
reports.
In my career, this skill will
help me in delivering my
information and knowledge in
an efficient manner to my

Academic skills Action Plan Future Implications
superiors and subordinates.
Time management skills I will acquire this skill by
planning my routine and other
stuff and try to complete my
daily task according to the set
time. Further articles of expert
writers will help me in
developing this skills
adequately.
By using this skill in my
academic life, I will inculcate
discipline which will help me
in personal development as
well as professional.
This skill will help me in my
career as it will reflect my
professionalism and discipline
in my work which will help in
my professional development.
Problem solving skills I will possess this skill by
practising it on hypothetical
situations so that I can monitor
my progress on each situation.
Further I will under training
session for this so that I can
learn the techniques of solving
the problems and noticing the
main issue first.
This skill will help me in my
career and academics as it will
bring seriousness in me which
will help in solving the issues.
It will also highlight leadership
in me in order to tackle the
problems.

CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the above report that workforce planning is a major business issue
which every organisation faces. It is very important to plan the staff in an effective manner so
that business needs are met by the talented and skilled workforce efficiently. Tesco works on
talent planning in order to motivate and retain the existing staff and attract the potential and
skilled workforce to drive its business objectives. The company has taken this issue positively
and works on it regularly (Pooya, Pakdaman and Ebrahimpour, 2020). Tesco annually plans its
workforce and take review on its planning thrice a year in order to meet the changing demands of
the market and the staff. Further while undergoing this assignment, I have learned and improved
the writing skill, time management and problem solving skills which will help me in near future.
In order to develop these skills effectively, personal development plan will help in near future so
that these skills can be implied in future for academic and career paths.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Dai, H. and Liu, P., 2020. Workforce planning for O2O delivery systems with crowdsourced
drivers. Annals of Operations Research. 291(1). pp.219-245.
Domagała, A. and Klich, J., 2018. Planning of Polish physician workforce–systemic
inconsistencies, challenges and possible ways forward. Health Policy. 122(2). pp.102-
108.
Fraher, E. and Brandt, B., 2019. Toward a system where workforce planning and
interprofessional practice and education are designed around patients and populations
not professions. Journal of interprofessional care. 33(4). pp.389-397.
Pooya, A., Pakdaman, M. and Ebrahimpour, S.M., 2020. A continuous-time optimal control
model for workforce planning considering human resource strategies
(HRS). Kybernetes.
Rees and et. al., 2018. The promise of complementarity: using the methods of foresight for
health workforce planning. Health services management research. 31(2). pp.97-105.
Sparkman, R., 2018. Strategic Workforce Planning: Developing Optimized Talent Strategies for
Future Growth. Kogan Page Publishers.