The Importance of Succession Planning and Critical Key Positions

This bachelor paper was composed to mark the completion of my studies Organization & Management at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Geel.
This case study explored the importance of succession planning and critical key positions for the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN. Through observation, it came to my knowledge the Human Resources Database manager would be retiring soon. I confronted my mentor Thomas on this matter, and he informed me that there was yet a replacement to be found for this position, which could pose a problem for the organization. This is because the Human Resources Database manager developed the Human Resources database that the organization is currently using. Although the organization is amid implementing a new database system, it still needs someone with knowledge of the current database system as this will not be completely abolished.
Thomas continued to explain that the position of Payroll Administrator, is also an important position for which there is no replacement. Unlike the case with the Human Resources Database manager, the Payroll Administrator is not retiring any time soon. Nevertheless, it would be more assuring if there was a replacement in place if something were to happen. It was then that Thomas advised me to consider researching succession planning and critical key positions.