A recent BusinessWeek slideshow feature demonstrates once again how important talent management strategies are to organizational success.

On the minus side, The Ten Worst Corporate Practices lists poor recruiting practices as a losing proposition. How you treat job applicants is important. After all, if you give them the cold shoulder when they apply, you risk losing them as a customer. Your careers site and candidate relationship management practices are key elements of your brand image. But they are only as effective as your talent management solutions.

On the positive side, The Ten Best Corporate Practices include emphasizing employee referrals and internal mobility. This comes as no surprise. If you look at sources of hire, referrals consistently make up a large percentage, followed closely by the company website. Workforce mobility programs formalize your process to address the growing importance of retention in your war for talent.