Generally employees want a career.  They work towards a career advancement. Organizations use career pathing and succession planning as a motivation and retention strategy to keep their pool of talents.

What is career pathing?

Career Pathing is the process used by the organization to plan and chart a course of actions for the employee’s career path and development. It involves identifying knowledge, skills, personal characteristics, and experience required for employees to progress in their career laterally, or through access to promotions and / or departmental transfers.

Career pathing should be a two-way process. The employees seek assistance from the organization to develop their  potentials in their effort to improve performance and contribute to the company bottom line. As the organization grows in size, the employees expect their organization to carve a career path for them. They expect the organization to support them by planning a series of developmental programs for the employees for higher roles through a proactive succession plan system..

What is succession planning?

 Succession planning is a process whereby an organization develops superior incumbent employees to fill up key roles or higher positions of responsibilities left vacant due to turnover or retirement. It prepares experienced and capable performers with leadership qualities for promotions to more challenging roles.

Succession planning entails the following processes

– Identify a pool of talents with the potential to assume greater responsibility.

– Provide critical development experiences for talents for upward mobility

– Develop their potentials for leadership roles

– Build a data base in the MIS that can be used to make better decisions.

 

Without a successful planning system, an organization can be destabilized and thrown into chaos due to loss of key

players. Key employee retention is critical to the long term health and success of an organization. The goal of succession planning is to retain the best employees, ensures customer satisfaction, product sales, and a pool of satisfied and motivated staff.  An effective succession planning leaves your organization well prepared for expansion, fill a vacancy of a key player and retain a pool of talents motivated to contribute meaningfully towards the bottom line of the organization.

Succession planning is no simple task. Mapping out the future involves more than an organizational chart displaying the corporate hierarchy. It’s essential to know which employees have the particular traits, behavioral characteristics and competencies required to assume higher position on the corporate ladder.

KYKO provides an answer to develop a data base for the employees in an organization. It incurs the following processes.

Profiling employees and develop the Job Personality Profile Matrix in the form of KYKO personality formula as shown below:

Table 1

 

KYKO Job Position-Personality Profile Matrix
 
Positions/Functions
Accounting and Finance Marketing and Sales Production and Operations Logistics / Warehousing Administration Customer Care and Services Research and Development
1 President / CEO HSA+HM+DE+DSE+DSO HM+HSA+DE+DSE+DSO DE+HSA+HM+DSE+DSO HSA+HSE +HM+DE+DSO HSA+HM+DE+DSE+DSO HM+HSO+HSA+DE+DSE HSA+HM+DSE+DE+DSO
2 Executive Vice President / COO HSA+HSE+HM+DE+DSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+DSE DE+HSA+HM +HSE+DSO HSA+HSE+HM+DE+DSO HSA+HSE+HM+DE+DSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+DSE HSA+HM+DSE+HE+DSO
3 Senior Vice President HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSO+HM+HSE+DSE DE+HSA+HM +HSO+DSE HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSO+HM+HSE+DSE HSA+DSE+HM+HE+DSE
4 Vice President HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSO+HM+HSE+DSE HSA+DE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSE+HM+HSE+DSO HSA+HSO+HM+HSE+DSE HSA+HSO+HM+DSE+DE
5 Assistant Vice President HSA+HM+HSE+DE+HSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+HSE HM+DE+HSO+HSA+HSE HSA+HM+HSE+DE+HSO HSA+HM+HSE+DE+HSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+HSE HM+HSA+DSE+DE+HSO
6 Senior General Manager HSA+HM +HSE+HSO +HE HM+HSA+HSO+HSE +HE HM+HSA+DE+HSE +HSO HM+HSA+HSE+HSO +HE HM+HSA+HSE+HSO +HE HM+HSA+HSO+HSE +HE HM+HSA+DSE+HSO +HE
7 General Manager HSA+HM +HSE+DE+HSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+HSE HM+HSA+HE+HSO+HSE HM+HSA+HSE+DE+HSO HM+HSA+HSE+DE+HSO HM+HSA+HSO+DE+HSE HM+HSA+DSE+DE+HSO
8 Assistant General Manager HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+DSE+HM +HE+HSO
9 Senior Manager HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSE+HM +HE+HSO HSA+HSO+HM +HE+HSE HSA+HSO+HM +HE+BSE
10 Manager HSA+HSE+FM +FE+FSO HSA+HSO+FM +FE+HSO HSA+HSO+FM +HE+HSO HSA+HSE+FM +HE+HSO HSA+HSE+FM +HE+HSO HSA+HSO+FM +HE+HSO HSA+DSE+FM +HE+HSO
11 Assistant Manager HSA+HSE+FM+FE+FSO HSA+HSO+FM+FE+FSE HSA+HSO+FM+FE+FSE HSA+HSE+FM+FE+HSO HSA+HSE+FM+FE+HSO HSA+HSO+FM+FE+FSE HSA+HSO+FM+FE+LSE
12 Senior Executive HSA+HSE+EM +FE+FSO HSA+HSO+EM +FE+HSE HSA+HSO+EM +FE+HSE HSA+HSE+EM +FE+HSO HSA+HSE+EM +FE+HSO HSA+HSO+EM +FE+HSE HSA+HSO+EM +FE+BSE
13 Executive HSA+HSE+EM +EE+FSO HSA+HSO+EM +EE+HSE HSA+HSO+EM +EE+HSE HSA+HSE+EM +EE+HSO HSA+HSE+EM +EE+HSO HSA+HSO+EM +EE+HSE HSA+HSO+EM +EE+LSE
14 Junior Executive HSA+HSE+EM +EE+FSO HSA+HSO+EM +EE+FSE HSA+HSO+EM +EE+FSE HSA+HSE+EM +EE+FSO HSA+HSE+EM +EE+FSO HSA+HSO+EM +EE+FSE HSA+HSO+EM +EE+BSE
15 Officer HSE+HSA+EM +EE +ESO HSO+HSA+EM +EE +ESE HSO+HSA+EM +EE +ESE HSE+HSA+EM +EE +ESO HSE+HSA+EM +EE +ESO HSO+HSA+EM +EE +ESE HSO+HSA+EM +EE +LSE
16 Junior Officer FSA+HSE+BM+EE+ESO HSO+FSA+BM+EE+ESE HSO+FSA+BM+EE+ESE HSE+FSA+BM+EE+ESO HSE+FSA+BM+EE+ESO HSO+FSA+BM+EE+ESE HSO+FSA+BM+EE+BSE
17 Clerks/Operating core FSA+FSE+LE+LM+ESO FSA+FSO+LE+LM+ESE FSA+FSO+LE+LM+ESE FSA+FSE+LE+LM+ESO FSA+FSE+LE+LM+ESO FSA+FSO+LE+LM+ESE FSA+FSO+LE+LM+LSE
Time
Exposures / Exeperience
Career Pathing

Developing the job profile

Identify the anchor formula for each position in the organizational hierarchy based on the following:

  1. Duties and Responsibilities
  2. Key Qualities
  3. Skills required for successful completion the tasks

Covert the above into KYKO formula

Identify the frequency of each formula

Determine the anchor formula

Notice the formula in red are the anchor formula for each position

For examples, in an accounting and finance department a clerk must be fairly self-actualized (FSA) and Fairly High Security (FSE).  FSA denotes that the employee is  fairly hardworking, quite committed and responsible, fairly good initiatives,  fairly good integrity, etc.. FSE denotes that the employee is quite meticulous, systematic, detail-oriented and reasonably organized.Thus the minimum standard of a clerk is FSA +FSE.  If a clerk scores higher than FSA and FSE, the employee should be earmarked for development.

Likewise, a manager must highly self actualized (HSA), High Security (HSE), Fairly Manipulative (FM), Fairly Egocentric (FE) and Fairly Sociocentric (FSO). HSA denotes that the employee in the accounting and finance department has high integrity, honest, hardworking, responsible and committed, HSE depicts that the employee is system compliance, meticulous and precise; FM depicts that the employee has a fairly good satellite vision, perceptive and influential; FE denotes that the employee  is decisive, confident and the take charge type, FSO depicts that the employee is reasonably sociable and is quite good in connecting with people.

Note that the five formula is arranged in a sequence accordingly to the intensity of each dimension. In other words, the strongest dimension appears first follow by the second strongest and so on.

The most important dimension for each function is as follow:

Accounting and Finance – HSA (High integrity, responsible, trustworthy employees should be entrusted in preparing budgets, costs, revenues, and expenses)

Marketing and Sale – HM (Able to size up and use a variety of techniques to persuade and convince prospects in closing sales, good at negotiating, and handle complaints and grievances etc.)

Productions and Operations – DE (Able to push and pull others to produce the desired results in the form of goods and services)

Logistics / Warehousing – HSA+HSE (Ensure goods are properly stored and deliver to the customers on time)

Administration – HSE (Able to organize people and resources efficiently towards organizational efficiency to achieve goals and objectives.)

Customer Care Services – HM+HSO (Good at interpersonal savvy, able to establish and retain a pool of loyal customers)

Research and Development – HM+HSA+DSE – (Creativity and innovation is needed for the research team to develop new products)

Table 2

  1. Identify the Job Personality Profile Matrix by traits and characteristics
Banking Industry FINANCE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SALES & MARKETING DEPARTMENT
No Positions KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics
1 VP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Professionalism, influential, strategic, result-oriented, trustworthy, able to push and pull people, meticulous, resourcefulness, shape or ship out employees HSA+HM+DE+HSE+HSO Professionalism. helicopter vision, friendly, influential, strategic, people oriented HSA+HM+DE+HSE+HSO Helicopter vision, extrovert, influential, strategic, people oriented, analytical
2 AVP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Result-oriented, honest, flexible, meticulous, strategic, system oriented, analytical HSA+HM+DE+HSE+HSO Professionalism, helicopter vision, friendly, flexible, strategic, people oriented HSA+HM+DE+HSE+HSO Helicopter vision, extrovert, flexible, strategic, people oriented, analytical
3 Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO  Chase after results, trustworthy, quite strategic, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Professionalism, friendly, people oriented, compromise, supportive, accountable, responsible HSA+HM+HE+HSE+HSO Extrovert, people oriented, compromise, coordinate, aggressive, adaptable, persuasive, probing
4 Assistant Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Chase after results, trustworthy, reasonably strategic,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Friendly, people oriented, compromise, supportive, accountable, responsible HSA+HM+HE+HSE+HSO Extrovert, people oriented, compromise, coordinate, aggressive, adaptable, persuasive, probing
5 Executive HSA+EM+EE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, honest, attention to details, systematic, dependent, priority, schedule HSA+EM+EE+HSE+HSO People oriented, approachable, caring, cheerful, cooperative, consult, diplomatic, courteous, helpful, meticulous HSA+HM+EE+HSE+HSO Persuasive, convincing, people oriented, high-spirited, helpful, probing, reconcilable, survivor, tactful
6 Clerks/Secretary/Workers HSA+LM+LE+HSE+ESO Hardworking, honest, attention to details, loyal, follow-instructions, rule oriented HSA+LM+LE+HSE+HSO Hardworking, follow-instructions, caring, cooperative, people oriented, patience, courteous, helpful, meticulous HSA+LM+LE+HSE+HSO Hardworking, follow-instructions, caring, cooperative, people oriented, patience, courteous, helpful
Manufacturing Industry FINANCE DEPARTMENT LOGISTIC DEPARTMENT PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
No KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics
1 VP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, decisive, influential, attention to details, strategic, systematic, analytical HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, systematic, flexible, attention to details, strategic, structured HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, push and pull, attention to details, strategic, structured, analytical
2 AVP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Direct, Decisive, Helicopter vision, flexible, meticulous, strategic, system oriented, analytical HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, systematic, flexible, attention to details, strategic, structured HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, push and pull, attention to details, strategic, structured, analytical
3 Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Direct, decisive, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+ESO Systematic, attention to details, precise, methodical, moderately sociable, organize, schedule, diagnostic HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Push and pull, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, meticulous moderately sociable, organize, schedule,
4 Assistant Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Decisive, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+ESO Systematic, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, moderately sociable, organize, schedule, diagnostic HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Push and pull, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, meticulous moderately sociable, organize, schedule, diagnostic
5 Executive HSA+EM+EE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, attention to details, systematic, dependent, priority, schedule HSA+EM+EE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, attention to details, systematic, dependent, priority, schedule HSA+EM+EE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, attention to details, systematic, dependent, priority, cautious, diagnostic, protocol, safety
6 Clerks/Secretary/Workers HSA+LM+LE+HSE+ESO Hardworking, attention to details, loyal, follow-instructions, rule oriented HSA+LM+LE+HSE+ESO Hardworking, attention to details, loyal, follow-instructions, rule oriented HSA+LM+LE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, attention to details, loyal, follow-instructions, discipline
Trading Industry FINANCE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SALES & MARKETING DEPARTMENT
No Positions KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics KYKO Dimensions Traits and Characteristics
1 VP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, high integrity, influential, attention to details, strategic, systematic, analytical HSA+HM+DE+DSE+HSO Helicopter vision, helpful and caring, influential, strategic, people oriented HSA+HM+DE+DSE+HSO Helicopter vision, extrovert, influential, strategic, people oriented, analytical
2 AVP HSA+HM+DE+HSE+DSO Helicopter vision, high integrity, flexible, meticulous, strategic, system oriented, analytical HSA+HM+DE+DSE+HSO Helicopter vision, helpful and caring, flexible,  strategic, people oriented HSA+HM+DE+DSE+HSO Helicopter vision, extrovert, flexible people oriented, strategic, analytical
3 Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO High integrity, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Helpful and caring, people oriented, compromise, supportive, accountable, responsible HSA+HM+HE+HSE+HSO Extrovert, people oriented, compromise, coordinate, aggressive, adaptable, persuasive, probing
4 Assistant Manager HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO High integrity, attention to details,  systematic, methodical, organize HSA+EM+HE+HSE+HSO Helpful and caring, people oriented, compromise, supportive, accountable, responsible HSA+HM+HE+HSE+HSO Extrovert, people oriented, compromise, coordinate, aggressive, adaptable, persuasive, probing
5 Executive HSA+EM+EE+HSE+ESO Good at facts and figures, trustworthy, attention to details, systematic, dependent, priority, schedule HSA+EM+EE+ESE+HSO People oriented, approachable, caring, cheerful, cooperative, helpful, diplomatic HSA+HM+EE+ESE+HSO Persuasive, convincing, people oriented, high-spirited, helpful, probing, reconcilable, survivor, tactful
6 Clerks/Secretary/Workers HSA+LM+LE+HSE+ESO Hardworking, honest, attention to details, loyal, modest, follow-instructions, rule oriented HSA+LM+LE+ESE+HSO Hardworking, follow-instructions, caring, cooperative, people oriented, helpful HSA+LM+LE+ESE+HSO Hardworking, follow-instructions, caring, cooperative, people oriented, patience, courteous, helpful

The personality formula denotes the traits and characteristics required for each position in the various department of an industry. This chart can be customized to meet the requirements of an organization

  1. Identify the Job Personality Profile Matrix by competencies – A sample for the Finance Department in a Banking Industry

 

Table 3

Banking Industry FINANCE DEPARTMENT
No Positions KYKO Dimensions Behavioral Competencies
1 VP HSA+HSE+HM+DE+DSO Transformational leadership,  planning & budgeting, management information system and costing, management accounting, cash flow management, internal customer satisfaction, finance functions, people management
2 AVP HSA+HSE+HM+FE+HSO Leadership, planning &
budgeting, management accounting, cash flow management, finance functions people management
3 Manager HSA+HSE+FM+FE+FSO Leadership, planning &
budgeting, management accounting, finance functions, cash flow management, people management
4 Assistant Manager FSA+HSE+FE+EM+FSO Leadership, planning &
budgeting, management accounting, cash flow management, people management
5 Executive FSA+HSE+FSO+BM+BE Goal setting, Job skills and technical knowledge, finance functions, organizing skills, paperwork, operations
6 Clerks/Tellers FSA+FSE+FSO+LE+LM Job skills and technical knowledge, report writing, payment and receiving cash, customer service

 

Above is a sample example of career pathing and succession planning for Finance Department of a Banking Industry

Career Pathing

Refer to the anchor formula in red for the various positions on the table above. For example, Tellers in the

finance department ideally should have three anchor formula

Select the teller with the following KYKO personality formula.

Ideal – HSA+HSE+HSO

Selection criteria:

Qualified – HSA+HSE+FSO, HSA +HSE+ESO, HSA +FSE+HSO, HAS+FSE+ESO

Minimum – FSA+HSE+HSO, FSA+HSE+FSO, FSA+HSE+ESO, FSA+FSE+HSO, FSA+FSE+FSO, FSA+FSE+ESO

Rationale:

HSA – High integrity, fast pace, responsible, accountable

HSE – Precise, careful, meticulous, systematic

HSO – Friendly, courteous, helpful, warm

Developmental needs

Incumbents who fall short of the ideal personality formula should be sent for the following training programs

Know yourself- Johari Windows, employee excellence, attitude programs to improve the SA qualities

Personal organization, planning and organizing skills to improve the SE qualities

Interpersonal relationship, quality customer service, customer care to improve the SO qualities

Competency – Refer to table 1 – Behavioral competencies for relevant knowledge and skills required

 

Succession planning

Performance Criteria

Years of Experience

Refer to table 1 and 2 for developmental needs