We reviewed with interest the data provided by the CEO briefing from the Economist Intelligence Unit. This was truly a comprehensive global survey with 555 executives representing 68 countries. And two-thirds were C-level executives or board members.
Contained are both good and bad news for talent management and HR. The bad news is that they rated HR as the lowest performing business area. We can argue the issue as we want, but that is the fact.
The good news is that out of the 12 operational priorities listed, Better Talent Management Practices (using phrases like Better recruitment, development and management of employees) came in the top 4. Talent practices finished ahead of research & development, financial systems, supply chain, partner & supplier relationships, back office systems, and production improvement. And also way ahead of internal control and risk management.
For all of us who think in gap analysis, such as what is the most important and has the least performance should come first, we see Talent Management being #1!
