Difference Between Career Planning and Succession Planning

Planning is one of the important aspects of human life, which implies thinking beforehand, what is to be done in future. At the individual level, career planning is quite common, which implies establishing the goals and timelines, within which the individual has to achieve them. It analyses a person’s skills, abilities and interest, to lay down long-term goals of a person.

At the organizational level, for the perpetual succession of an organisation, there must be potential employees, to fill the key positions and take charge of the organisation, which is possible only through proper succession planning. It analyses the critical jobs in an organisation and what kind of person is required to fulfil that position.

The main difference between career planning and succession planning lies in the fact that who performs it. Check out the article to know more on the two topics.

Content: Career Planning Vs Succession Planning

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Career Planning	Succession Planning
Meaning	Career Planning is the process through which an individual selects the goals of his work life and finds ways to reach the goals.	Succession Planning is a process who tends to spot and develop the employees, that can occupy the key positions in the organization, when they become vacant.
Subset of	Career Management	Succession Management
What is it?	Individual Planning	Organizational Strategy
Position	One employee holds different positions, in his/her work life.	One position is held by different employees, over a period of time.
Ensures	Success in one's career.	Continuity in leadership for all key positions.

Definition of Career Planning

Career Planning is viewed as a systematic process, through which an individual sets a goal for his/her career and formulate strategies to achieve them. It assists an individual in exploring, selecting and chasing the life goals, to gain satisfaction with the career.

Career Planning is the elementary step of career management process, in which an individual determines the type of career an individual wants to pursue and what are the ways to be chosen or steps to be taken to reach there. It helps in evaluating one’s interest and abilities, identifying alternative career opportunities, setting career goals and planning development activities.

When the organisation involves in planning, it is known as organisational career planning, which is a systematic succession of jobs, carried out by the firm, for the development of its employees.

Definition of Succession Planning

Succession Planning can be defined as the continuous process of recognising and developing, potential leaders for holding the critical positions and replacing the old ones, in an organisation, so as to ensure smooth functioning of the organisation. It is a strategy, that suggest the steps taken to achieve the mission and objectives of the organisation. It aims at finding out potential replacements, both from inside and outside the organisation.

In this process, the employees are scanned and trained to occupy the major leadership position, when the existing incumbents are no longer in the employment of the organisation, due to reasons such as resignation, superannuation, promotion, transfer, etc.

Succession Planning enables the managers and executives to assess and develop a talent pool of employees, who has the ability and willingness to fill the positions, vacant in the organisation.

Conclusion

An effective career planning is going to benefit an individual, whereas the entire organisation is benefitted by succession planning. Both succession planning and career planning are pro-active in nature, as well as they are future-focused.