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What Keeps the HR Department up at Night?
Ken Blanchard Companies’ annual survey reveals key
concerns
By Suzanne Evans
Developing potential leaders, enhancing managerial and supervisory skills,
selecting and retaining key talent and dealing with competitive pressures
top the list of worries faced by HR and training executives according
to the 2005 Business Issues Survey conducted by The Ken Blanchard Companies®.
Respondents were asked to define their organisations top management, employee
development and business challenges from a list provided. The results
showed clearly that flourishing in today’s business climate is anything
but easy and that people issues take centre stage.
For the third year running, developing potential leaders was listed as
a priority, with 58% of respondents claiming this to be their top management
challenge. Selecting and retaining key talent was also a key issue for
53% of respondents.
61% said their major employee development concerns centered on developing
managerial and supervisory skills. Other key challenges included customer
relations, interpersonal communication and team building skills.
When it comes to business challenges, competitive pressure tops the rankings.
63% of respondents listing this as a major challenge - a full 24 points
above any other business issue. Organisations cite overseas competition,
reduced demand for existing products, market share erosion, pricing pressure
from offshore competitors and concerns about meeting customer criteria
in view of dwindling budgets and resources. A shortage of skilled labour
is the next most pressing concern, with respondents citing skill shortages
and lack of trained talent at all levels.
In an open-ended comments section, nearly 10% of respondents cited the
economy, funding, and budgets as major struggles, saying that purse strings
are tight and that upper management is less willing to invest in anything
that isn’t seen as critical. As a result, organisations are emphasizing
cost containment as well as the need to meet financial goals.
The Ken Blanchard Companies 2005 Business Issues Survey is the third such
annual poll. Responses were collated from over 500 international HR, training
and other business leaders.
Download
Survey Results
For further information please contact The Ken Blanchard Companies on
+44 (0) 208 540 5404.
| Suzanne Evans is a broadcaster, journalist
and founder of Public Relations and Media Consultancy Suzanne Evans
Communications. Since 2000, the consultancy has handled media relations
in the UK and Europe for The Ken Blanchard Companies, an international
learning and development organisation founded by the co-author of
the best selling business book, The One Minute Manager®. Suzanne
also delivers voice and presentation and media interview training.
Call +44 (0) 208 687 0713 or email suzanne@suzanne-evans.co.uk. |
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