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Mark R. Sobol, Phil Harkins, and Terence Conley (Eds.). Linkage Inc.'s Best Practices for Succession Planning: Case Studies, Research, Models, Tools. San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 2007,264 pages, $90.00 hardcover.
Reviewed by Andrew N. Garman, Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Health Systems Management Department, Rush University, Chicago, IL.
Succession Planning is the latest in a series of books from Linkage, Inc., which has previously focused on topics such as leadership development, global workforce management, and team development. In this latest installment, the focus is on "succession/progression/development," which they describe as the planful integration of each of these three elements, with a focus on high-potential employees (HIPOs).
The book begins with two brief chapters overviewing succession planning concepts. They describe a "new methodology" or approach to thinking about succession planning, taking an ongoing and systems view rather than a compliance or event-driven view of the process. The chapters are brief but well focused, covering quite a bit of ground on the core steps and processes involved in a systemic approach to succession planning.
What follows in the heart of the book are seven case studies of organizations that have implemented succession planning approaches. The case studies are typically at the department or division level, and the companies-Bright Horizons, CIGNA, Allied Signal, Lockheed Martin, Merrill Lynch, Ralston Purina, and Unilever-are all high-profile corporate names. The book is the first I am aware of to take this case study approach to succession planning. Given the complexity of succession planning systems, as well as the substantial interplay with context-particularly the local operating...