As an HR practitioner, your reputation is on the line when you make recommendations about future staffing levels to the management of an organization. Whatever method you use to project future requirements needs to be as accurate and dependable as possible. However, this "reliability" depends on your knowledge of what a method can (and cannot) do as well as the type and quality of data that you fed into the process.

As an HR practitioner, your reputation is on the line when you make recommendations about future staffing levels to the management of an organization. Whatever method you use to project future requirements needs to be as accurate and dependable as possible. However, this "reliability" depends on your knowledge of what a method can (and cannot) do as well as the type and quality of data that you fed into the process.

In this discussion, you are asked to compare and draw conclusions about the utility of different methods for projecting need. The previous module had you project demand for a single year using staffing tables. This module had you project demand using a trend line. Both of these methods rely on historical data to predict more of the same in future years. However, this is not the only strength or weakness (depending on your perspective) to either of these methods.

Start by comparing how you calculated demand for a staffing table with how you calculated demand for a simple trend line. Then brainstorm a list of advantages and disadvantages for each method. Finally, consider when either method would reliable and when it would not based on your list of advantages and disadvantages. When you are ready, follow the instructions below to post you ideas.

Tip:Don't just post a list of advantages and disadvantages. State your conclusion first, followed by the reason why or how you came to that conclusion. Use the advantages and disadvantages are just there to help you make your argument.

Open the discussion forum and post your comments.

Criteria

 Your response should focus on one main idea in no more than a couple of paragraphs. Make sure that you contribute an original idea or build on someone else's idea in a meaningful way. Keep your sentences short and readable. Think though your response using the textbook to back up your answers and explain why?

 

Once you have posted your answers, look at the other postings in this discussion and provide comments to at least two other people. Follow Humber's "netiquette" policy and be constructive and respectful in your comments - especially when you disagree.