15 & 16 October 2026 Lisbon
Portugal
The Strategic Workforce Planning Certification Program, delivered live in Zurich on 21–22 May 2026, equips senior HR and business leaders with a clear, repeatable methodology to plan their workforce in alignment with business priorities, even when the future is uncertain and data is incomplete.
Delivered in partnership between The P World and the Human Capital Institute (HCI), this two-day, live certification programme is designed for leaders who need a structured, practical approach to workforce planning, one that supports real decisions, not theoretical models.
Across two intensive days, participants work hands-on with proven frameworks, tools, and scenarios to anticipate future skills needs, manage workforce risks, and support strategic decision-making.
This is a hands-on programme designed to help you return to work with clarity, confidence, and practical tools not just ideas.
This course is designed to help participants:
Strategic Workforce Planning has become a critical business capability. Skills are evolving faster than roles, data is often incomplete, and organisations are expected to make confident workforce decisions under constant change.
This globally recognised programme focuses on practical execution. Participants work through real-world scenarios, apply HCI’s proven methodology, and use the Strategic Workforce Planning Toolkit throughout the programme to translate insight into action.
All participants receive the official HCI Strategic Workforce Planning Toolkit, a comprehensive set of job aids designed to simplify execution and save time. The toolkit includes tools for:
These tools are used during the programme and are ready to be applied immediately in your organisation.
Brochure download (260 kB)
Talent Management Context
Talent management aligned with strategy
Talent management by the numbers
Agenda Introduction
Strategic Workforce Planning: Background and Context
Workforce Planning Evolution
Operational versus Strategic Workforce Planning
HCI’s Perspective on Strategic Workforce Planning
The HCI Strategic Workforce Planning Model
Workforce Planning in Action
The Hallmarks of Successful SWP Efforts
Strategic Workforce Planning as Risk Mitigation
Case Studies:
• VF Corporation
• NASA
• NCR
Self Assessment of workforce planning maturity
Business Strategy
Strategy first
Competitive differentiation map
Examples of strategic statements
Strategic alignment
Strategy references
Differentiated Segments
Four stages of workforce differentiation
Segmenting roles
A spectrum of roles
Examples of critical roles
Competencies for critical roles
Activity: Case Study
Environmental Scan
Quantitative and qualitative information
Environmental scan quadrants
Internal supply: Profile and trend data
External supply
Internal demand
External demand
Risk assignment to environmental factors
Activity: Case Study
The Data Requirements of Strategic Workforce Planning
Marketing segmentation
Current state workforce supply groups
Workforce data
Activity: Conducting Current State Analysis
Current State Analysis
The data requirements of Strategic Workforce Planning
Using and evaluating talent information
Case Study examples:
• GE
• Proctor & Gamble
• Husqvarna
Futuring
Possible futures
Futuring techniques
Limits of forecasting
The no-change future state
Scenario planning
Examples of a scenario matrix
Scenario modeling in practice
The targeted future state
Gap Analysis
Examples of gap dimensions
Gaining consensus on critical gaps
The SWP toolkit gap template
Action Planning
Solutions to close gaps
6 Bs for skill acquisition and development
Work design
Rewards and recognition
Development
Acquisition
Manage and lead
Retention
Activity: Case Study
Telling Stories with Data and Enlisting Support
The Elements of Compelling Stories
Influencing skills and driving change
Infographics and other visualization techniques
Case Study examples:
• McGraw Hill Federal Credit Union
• Grant Thornton
• Conagra
Bringing Strategic Workforce Planning to Life and Practice
Compelling cases for workforce planning
The competencies of successful workforce planners
Roles and responsibilities of the SWP project team
The SWP workshop session
Walkthrough assessment and getting started toolkit
Workforce Planning in a State of Perpetual Change
The ongoing Environmental Scan
Building a data dictionary: the importance of a common vernacular
The continuous process of review and (re)alignment
Designing for flexibility and innovation
Summary
Key learnings
Next steps
This program can also be delivered as a tailored in-house training for your organization. We adapt the content to your industry, objectives, and level of maturity, focusing on real challenges your teams face and the decisions they need to make. In-house formats allow your people to align on a shared approach, work through relevant scenarios, and build skills they can apply immediately.
If you’re exploring an in-house option, tell us a bit about your team, priorities, and timing, and we’ll recommend the right format.
Contact us about in-house training
