Why are so many organizations focused on this - now?

CEOs declare, "Our people are our company's greatest asset." Their unspoken fear is that they are wasting the potential of the majority of their employees - and that soon there won't be enough talent around to waste. There are some very real that are triggering a talent crisis. Bottom line: Companies must get very good at developing and retaining talent, or they will find difficult times ahead.

The Facts:

• Employees have broad access to job-related information over the internet. Since there's no longer a stigma to changing jobs, turnover is increasingly difficult to manage.

• Retiring baby boomers are about to cause an unprecedented talent shortage and "Generation Y" has more demanding employment expectations making them tough to recruit, and harder to retain.

• More organizations have employees in multiple locations worldwide, which makes it more difficult to engage with, evaluate, develop, manage, and align employees with organizational goals.