EFFECTIVE SUCCESSION PLANNING AND TALENT MANAGEMENT IN
LIBRARIES & INFORMATION CENTRES
by
Hjh Rosnani Binti Hj Yaakub, Mindef Library & Info Centre
The workshop from 5-7 February 2013 was a programme under the Workshop On Leadership For
Libraries And Information Centres [Series 2] organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation,
Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, for senior officers, chief librarian and library officers.
There were four participants from Brunei Darussalam namely Hjh Rosnani Binti Hj Yaakub – Mindef
Library & Info centre, Hjh Pusparaini Binti Hj Thani – Institut Teknologi Brunei, Hjh Norsenah Binti Hj
Nasir – Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka Brunei and,Hjh Nurul Rabiatul Adawiyah Binti Hj Berudin –
Mindef Library & Info Centre
The theme of the workshop was effective succession planning and talent management in libraries and
info centres. Succession planning involves having senior executives periodically review their top
executives and those in the next lower level to determine several backups for each senior position.
Organizations will need to create pools of candidates with high leadership potential. It often takes
years of grooming to develop effective senior managers.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives helps to answer two fundamental questions:
? How well-positioned are libraries in retaining the best performers to meet current and
future challenges
The programme delivers the information and insights needed to help libraries respond to a rapidlyshifting landscape. It is designed for those whose role is to think strategically about emerging needs
of users, about changing expectations of library staff, about new technologies and about the long term
range plans for the library within a larger institutional context.
? How effective are librarians own succession planning strategy?
Service strategies in all arenas are moving toward customization or individualization, customization
means getting customers to teach you, what they want, remembering what they teach you,
providing what they want.
In a customer focus environment, development and delivery of library and information services must
involve the customer to a great extent.
PROGRAMME AGENDA
The workshop delivered various topic such as defining succession planning and talent management,
approach to attract and retain talented workers, skill practice, the succession planning 9 box, talent
management framework, identify key positions & competencies, selecting high potential candidates,
leadership development (how to plan for leadership development) and lessons learnt and next step.
The participants were encouraged to get involved with the discussions, sharing their experience,
analysed case study and group presentation.
IMPORTANT TOPIC
SUCCESSION PLANNING VS REPLACEMENT PLANNING
? Succession planning is the process of identifying and preparing suitable employees through
mentoring, training and job rotation to replace key players such as the (CEO) within an
organization as their terms expire and focused on developing talent to move forward.
? Replacement planning is focused on identifying immediate understudies.
Go to page 7
Wadah Perpustakaan no.8, Ogos 2013
Page 6