If you're like most executives, you know that finding, retaining, and developing talent count among your toughest business challenges. But what company hasn't also had too many employees at some time, leading to painful layoffs and restructurings?

despite awareness of these problems, most companies are doing little to plan for and then meet their demands for talent. many rely on outside hiring to solve their staffing problems. Others use outdated talent management practices built around long-term succession planning. Neither approach works, because each was tailored to a predictable business environment that no longer exists.

In today's uncertain world, you can't forecast your business needs accurately, let alone your talent needs. Moreover, an open labor market means inevitable leaks in your talent pipeline. And intensifying competition demands a maniacal focus on costs. Traditional investments in talent management are hugly expensive, especially when the employees you've carefully cultivated leave your firm for rivals. And outside hiring has become prohibitively expensive, while also delivering unreliable results.

In Talent on demand, peter Cappelli takes on these challenges by examining the talent management problem through a new lens. Drawing from state-of-the art supply chain management and numerous company examples, he presents four new strategies for ensuring that your organization has the skills it needs - when it needs them.

This book shows you how to :

* Balance developing talent in-house with buying it on the open market

* Manage the uncertainty in talent-need forecats

* Maximize returns on your talent investments

* Replicate the advantages of the external job market by creating an in-house market that links available talent to jobs.

Practical and provocative, Talent on demand gives you the insights and tools to consistently meet your talent needs - today and tomorrow.