A study by Accenture shows that the war for talent can no longer be dismissed as just another management cliche.

Identifying, retaining and replacing those people who breathe life into an organization is now a "burning obsession among chief executives", says Peter Cheese, global managing partner at the company���s human performance practice, and affects business leaders in India just as much as those in the UK.

"More than 60% of the respondents to our annual survey of chief executives said that the inability to attract and retain the best talent is now a key threat to their business, outstripping the issue of low employee morale," says Cheese.

This is a great article (link below) with interviews from 4 CEO's from Guadian Media Group, Dell UK, St. Luke's and Ealing Council on the issues that talent is having within their organizations.

The use of HR technologies including talent management technology is one of the only ways these issues will get resolved.  A few bullets:

• Succession planning and management is crucial * HR people need to be IMMERSED in your business * Higher and higher expectations of the HR function to lead and assist the CEO in sleeping (no pressure)

Welcome back from a long weekend.  Another infusion of knowledge...

Link to What keeps CEOs awake at night? - 22/05/2007