As Bhatti et al. (1998) note, organisations today operate in a world that is increasingly deregulated, instantaneous, competitive, data computer rich and Internet connected. This unprecedented rate of change, facing both public and private sectors, produces a major reorientation of structures, systems and management methods. In other words, organisations are being forced to continue their business in conditions of cost constraints, market deregulation and structural changes such as mergers and acquisitions. As a result, human resource planning becomes of vital assistance in deciding which jobs are essential and which will be lost (Zeffane and Mayo, 1994a). In a similar vein other writers argue that, in the current highly uncertain socio-economic climate, human resource planning is emerging as a focal human resource activity, as it is increasingly becoming an essential and very prominent boundary spanning function (see, for example, Evans, 1991; Richards-Carpenter, 1989; Walker. 1989)
This view has also been supported by Marchingtan and Wilkinson who strongly criticised some early 1990s writers, referring to human resource planning as at best irrelevant, and at worst misguided and dangerous, in the turbulent and increasingly insecure competitive environment of the late twentieth century. Marchington and Wilkinson have stressed that such opinions misunderstand the nature and uses of the planning process, and can be used to justify "ad-hocery" and reactive management. However, planning is according to them, at least just as important during turbulent times, if not more so, for least four reasons;
(1) It business and human resource plans, and so integrate the two more effectively.
(2) It allows for much better control over staffing costs and numbers employed;
(3) It enables employers to make more informed judgements about the skills and attitude mix in the organisation, and prepare integrated personnel and development strategies;
(4) It provides a profile of current staff (for example, in terms of gender, race and disability) which is necessary for moves towards