The high-performing acquisition organization comprises both high performing people and a realistic plan for finding, recruiting, developing and retaining those performers. Rather than a piecemeal approach to filling staffing requisitions and approving training requests if the budget allows, a comprehensive plan to manage talent will promote a stronger, healthier acquisition operation that delivers superior mission outcomes more efficiently and effectively.

A human capital plan defines staffing requirements and lays out a structured approach to attracting, retaining and developing people in a manner that aligns to the organization's mission and needs. For maximum benefit, such a plan will address all factors affecting the workforce composition and performance -- task assignment, workload allocation, communications, compensation, benefit structure, training, evaluation criteria, career progression, management direction, location, working environment, knowledge management, resources and infrastructure. Adapting leading practices from high-performing acquisition organizations from both the public and private sector enables you to design a human capital plan that addresses workforce requirements now and into the future based on mission, environmental drivers, and key stakeholder concerns with this objective: putting the right people in the right positions at the right time. It also serves as a guide for executing actions to build and sustain a high-performing workforce.