Welcome to Level 2: Intermediate Effective Succession Planning. This course builds on the foundational knowledge gained in Level 1 and takes you deeper into the practical implementation of succession planning processes. You will learn advanced techniques for workforce planning, develop expertise in sectoral targets and compliance, master the art of building and managing succession pools, and acquire the skills to mentor, coach, and evaluate succession candidates effectively.

By the end of this course, you will be able to conduct sophisticated workforce analysis, design compliant succession plans that meet sectoral targets, facilitate talent calibration sessions, create competency-based development programs, and establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks. This course assumes you have completed Level 1 or have equivalent foundational knowledge of succession planning principles, the Employment Equity Act, and designated groups.

Prerequisites

Before starting this course, you should be able to:

• Define succession planning and explain its strategic importance
• Identify designated groups and explain the Employment Equity Act requirements
• Describe how sectoral targets work at a basic level
• Identify critical positions using basic risk assessment methods
• Explain the concept of talent pools and readiness levels

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this Level 2 course, you will be able to:

• Conduct strategic workforce planning aligned with business objectives
• Apply workforce analytics to identify succession risks and opportunities
• Perform detailed gap analysis for critical positions and talent pipelines
• Interpret and apply sectoral targets for specific industries
• Navigate the Certificate of Compliance process
• Design and facilitate talent review and calibration processes
• Create competency-based development plans for succession candidates
• Design effective mentorship and coaching programs
• Differentiate between mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship
• Establish succession planning metrics and KPIs
• Implement review cycles for continuous improvement