BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

FACULTY OF COMMERCE

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (GSB)

‘Where Great Minds Meet’

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE NARRATION: Succession Planning

COURSE CODE: MLC514

LECTURER: PROF.M. DANDIRA

1. Course Description
Succession planning is a key aspect in any organization as it requires leaders to think
about tomorrow today. Succession planning is a strategy for identifying and developing
future leaders at your company — not just at the top but for major roles at all levels. It
helps business prepare for all contingencies by preparing high-potential workers for
advancement. There is a critical shortage in companies of middle and top leaders for the
next five to ten years.

2. Course Overview
This course introduces the theory and practice of succession planning in organizational
development. This involves exploring theories and succession planning, models and
types. Succession planning models, types and talent management including case study
reviews.

The aim of the course is to assist leaders to create a pool of candidates for potential
leadership. Areas to be covered are; succession planning process, succession planning
models/theories and applicability, different types of succession planning, importance of
succession planning, leadership competencies for succession planning, mistakes to be
avoided in succession planning among others.

3. Course Objectives
After participating in this module students should be in a position to:
 Understand and discuss key concepts of theory of succession planning and it
application in business operations.

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  Apply learned knowledge in their respective organizations and leadership roles.
4. Methods of Instruction
Teaching shall be carried out using conventional lectures, student class presentations and
group case discussions.

5. Syllabus Content

TOPIC CONTENT SECTION OBJECTIVES

1. Definition of Succession
planning
2. Purpose and objectives
of succession planning
3. Succession plan five
step process
4. Types of Succession
Planning
5. Leadership Succession
Models
6. Principles of Succession
planning
7. Impact of Succession
Planning on
organizational
leadership
8. 7 Steps in process of
Succession Planning
9. Succession Planning
Grid Model
10. Talent Management
development process

6. RECOMMENDED TEXTS
 Rothwell, W. J. (2005). Effective succession planning: Ensuring leadership continuity
and building talent from within (3rd ed.). New York: American Management
Association.
 Hirsh, W. (2000). Succession planning demystified. Brighton, UK: Institute for
Employment Studies.
 Van Velsor, E., & McCauley, C. D. (2004). Our view of leadership development. In
C. D. McCauley and E. Van Velsor (Eds.), The Center for Creative Leadership
handbook of leadership development (pp. 1-22, 2nd ed.).
 San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 4. Berke, D. (2005). Succession planning and
management: A guide to organizational systems and practices. Greensboro, NC:
Center for Creative Leadership. 5. Sanders, P. (2007, February 14). Once and again:
After son’s death a casino mogul returns to helm. The Wall Street Journal, 16-17.

*Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and any book that comprehensively addresses the
course content is relevant.

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*Journals and Publications as well as any relevant magazines and newspapers that add value to
the course should be utilised.

7. ASSESSMENT

The course shall be assessed as follows:

60% formal written examination

40% continuous assessment

8. CLASSIFICATION OF COURSE
The following shall be used for the course:

80% and above Distinction

70% - 79% Merit
60% - 69% Credit
50% - 59% Pass
Below 50% Fail

9. ASSIGNMENTS (each out of 100)

Assignment 1 - Individual
Assignment 2 - Individual
Assignment 3 - Group

10. COURSE OUTLINE REVIEW PANEL

Approval by the Graduate School of Business Board Members

1. Name…………………………………………. Qualifications……………………………
Organisation…………………..Signature……...
2. Name………………………………………….
Qualifications……………………………Organisation…………………..Signature….......

Approval by the External Examiner

1. Name………………………………………….
Qualifications……………………………Organisation…………………..Signature….......

Approval by the Advisory Board

1. Name………………………………………….
Qualifications………………..…………Organisation…………………..Signature….......
2. Name………………………………………….

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 Qualifications………………..…………Organisation………………….Signature…........

Approval by the Coordinator of Graduate School of Business

1. Name………………………………………………Signature…………………………….

Approval by the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce

1. Name………………………………………...…….Signature…………………………….

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