Routledge Practical Succession Management: How to Future-Proof Your Organisation

Succession management, often little more than an annual form-filling chore and a throwback to 'chess board' charting of 1950s multinationals, needs revitalisation to become a key driver of organisational renewal in the twenty-first century. Whilst recent corporate failings have focused attention on the difficulties of leadership succession, those organisations which have made the transition to greatness have understood the impact of strategic resourcing in renewing their leadership capability and character. The challenge for organisations is reconciling leadership demand and supply. When it may be impossible to say what your organisation will look like in three years time, or what strategy it will be pursuing, demand becomes difficult to predict. And in an era of shifting career realities, supply management needs to be more than an analysis of the age profile of the leadership population. Practical Succession Management is a response to the increasing relevance of proactive succession management but the widespread difficulty of making it happen. The author focuses on the business realities of succession management rather than provide a conceptualisation of how it might work in principle or simply headline a series of corporate 'just so' stories. In a robust evaluation of relevant research and imaginative practice, Andrew Munro maps out the battlegrounds for succession management, with tools and techniques to guide readers from start to finish. The result is a book that will stimulate and challenge your thinking in opening up new options and provide practical methodologies to advance strategic resourcing within your organisation. Review ’Practical Succession Management provides a realistic appraisal of the challenges Chairmen and CEOs face in securing the ongoing success of their business. It cannot and does not provide a universal solution - what it does do is provide significant help in identifying and implementing the strategies required to ensure the leadership pipeline is sufficiently strong and robust for when the need arises.' - Philip Williamson, Chief Executive, Nationwide Building Society 'This is a well written book with many practical examples and case studies. It would be useful for any company wanting to implement succession planning.' - Personnel Today 'The presentation of the material is excellent.' - Economic Outlook and Business Review 'At CEO and director level, this book is a mine of invaluable guidence. Additionally, for those in HRM with the responsibility for supporting the design and implementation of succession activity, the book will be invaluable, not least because it incorporates a series of templates, protocols and checklists which can be adapted and customised according to the distinctive requirements of their organisation.' - Business Executive 'How refreshing-a book that takes seriously the issues of succession and does exactly what it sets out to do. It takes people issues seriously and contains an excellent blend of research, references and intelligent observation. it is an excellent guide and a comprehensive manual.' - Supply Management 'A great book packed with case studies and practical advice for CEOs, Board Members, HR directors and all who are interested in the acquisition, growth and retention of talent. Andrew Munro presents some bold suggestions and challenges the reader to really think about the key outcomes being sought from succession management. He offers some good suggestions to get you to reframe your thoughts and avoids 'spoon feeding' the reader which is always welcome!.' - Duncan Armitage, Coach / Consultant 'An exce About the Author Andrew Munro (MA, C. Psychol) started his career with SHL, the psychometric testing consultants, then moved into financial services, where his responsibilities included executive development and succession planning. In 1993 he co-founded Andrew Munro Ltd, a consultancy specialising in leadership assessment and develop