High-Performance Workforce Research

Accenture just released its latest findings on the High Performance Workforce. The research, Accenture High Performance Workforce Study, is conducted approximately every 18 months to measure workforce management trends among executives in large corporations in the United States, Europe and Australia.

Among the most recent research findings:

• Only 20% of respondents said the vast majority of their employees understand their companies’ strategy and what’s needed to be successful in their industry.
• Just one in 10 respondents reported being very satisfied with the performance of his or her human resources (HR) and training functions (11 percent and 10 percent, respectively.)
• 42% of respondents described capturing and sharing knowledge as a challenge or a severe challenge for their companies.
• 60% of respondents reported that, over the next five years, they expect to begin feeling the impact of the aging workforce and the impending retirement of baby boomers.

BOTTOMLINE: “A company’s ability to manage its workforce strategically and develop its capabilities will set it apart from its competitors. Some companies focus well on one or two aspects of human capital management, such as learning or internal communications, but the best take a broad view of managing their workforce. These are the companies that vastly increase their chances of being industry leaders.”