Online Class: Using Succession Planning and Mentoring To Chart the Future

This convenient online course can be taken from anywhere. You can participate in our online classes from home, from your office, even when you travel. A PC or laptop, modem and browser bring the virtual classroom to you, when and where you want to participate.

At a glance:

Dates: January 8 - February 18, 2008
Location: Online
Instructor: Susan Paddock
Contact: Robbi Dreifuerst 608-262-3830, rdreifuerst@dcs.wisc.edu
To enroll: See registration options.

Description:

This class will help you think about your current and future workforce -- who is in the workplace right now, who might be in the workplace in the future, what skills will be needed, how you'll replace workers who leave, and how you'll support the development of workers and managers within your agency.  Since at least 80% of any department's budget (outside of federally-budgeted entitlement monies) is spent on human resources, understanding the future and current workforce of the organization is essential for any manager.

You’ll have readings, URL sites to visit, activities to complete, and a discussion board.  Your final assignment is to write a 2-5 page paper (500 to 1250 words) summarizing what you've learned (including what you consider the major issues for your organization) and what you plan to work on in the next year related to workforce planning.  You may choose to get a start at a workforce plan or a succession plan or a formal mentoring program plan instead of doing a more general "what did I learn" paper. 

The course begins with Week Zero, a one-week orientation period January 1-7 which allows students time to familiarize themselves with the course site, navigation tools, etc., before the class formally begins on January 8.

Objectives:

Week 1:  Understanding Your Current Workforce
Identify workforce and demographic trends.  Identify demographic workforce issues facing public agencies in general, and your own agency in particular.
  
Week 2:  Developing a Workforce Strategy
Identify the elements of an effective workforce plan by reviewing general overviews and specific workforce plans.  Draft a workforce plan for your own agency or work unit.

Week 3:  Thinking about Succession Planning
Identify the core competencies which must be maintained and replaced when senior managers and staff retire.  Develop a draft succession management plan for your work unit/agency.

Week 4:  Attracting and Retaining New Workers
Identify the characteristics of a good workplace which can attract well-trained and productive employees.  Identify strategies for recruiting those employees to your workplace, and strategies required to retain them, including necessary workplace changes.

Week 5:  Developing and Mentoring Employees
Identify the various approaches to mentoring and career development.  Develop a draft plan for using appropriate approaches in your agency or work unit.

Week 6:  Developing an Integrated Human Resource Strategy
Identify the key human resource elements necessary for linking unit-level workforce and succession planning activities to broader HR concerns.  Create a human resource strategy for your work unit or agency.

Final paper:  (2-3 pages) describing either a workforce plan, a succession plan or a mentoring plan for your work unit..    

Instructor: 

Susan Paddock is a professor of governmental affairs in the Department of Professional Development and Applied Studies at UW-Madison and director of the Wisconsin Certified Public Manager Program.

Student Requirements:

CPM online classes are conducted using the Desire2Learn platform. Registered students are given the course Web site address, along with a password to access the course.

A one-week orientation period precedes each class, allowing students time to familiarize themselves with the course site before the class formally begins.

Students are required to:

• Read weekly chapters, articles, case studies, and/or lecturettes either sent by mail or posted on the course site.
• Respond to weekly questions and points of discussion in the Discussion Board.
• Complete a summative writing assignment.

Students work on weekly requirements at times convenient to them; however, all are encouraged to begin posting in the Discussion Board early in the week.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to participate in a group class or arrange for a substitute, you may obtain a refund minus the $20 administrative fee by contacting our registration department at least 3 business days prior to the program. If you cancel 3 business days or less before the program, or do not participate, you are responsible for the entire fee. To cancel or arrange for a substitute, please call 800-725-9692. No refund is given for cancellation of an Independent Study class. Exceptions to this policy will be determined by CPM program staff on a case-by-case basis.

More information on computer requirements, connectivity, etc. can be found at the CPM online classes home page.

General information:

Location: Online

Fees: $295

Registration deadline: December 1, 2007

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to participate in a group class or arrange for a substitute, you may obtain a refund minus the $20 administrative fee by contacting our registration department at least 3 business days prior to the program. If you cancel 3 business days or less before the program, or do not participate, you are responsible for the entire fee. To cancel or arrange for a substitute, please call 800-725-9692. No refund is given for cancellation of an Independent Study class. Exceptions to this policy will be determined by CPM program staff on a case-by-case basis.

For program information contact: Robbi Dreifuerst, coordinator of the CPM Program, 608-262-3830, rdreifuerst@dcs.wisc.edu

Registration options:

By phone: Call 608-262-7942 or toll-free 800-725-9692.

By mail: Print, complete and mail the UW Continuing Studies registration form.

By fax: Print, complete and fax the UW Continuing Studies registration form.

Online: Secure online registration is available for this program

WCPM is a program of the
Department of Professional Development & Applied Studies
610 Langdon St., Rm. 313.....Madison WI 53703
Phone: 608-263-2088 or .....(800) 442-4617
Fax: 608-265-2329.....E-mail: pdas@dcs.wisc.edu