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Global Human Capital Trends 2016

Video series

Four powerful forces—from demographic upheavals and the rise of digital technology to rapid business-model innovation, and socially driven evolution in the employer-employee relationship—are driving change for both HR functions and the organizations they serve, creating talent challenges and potential solutions radically different from those faced by previous generations of leaders.

Ten Global Human Capital Trends


The new organization: Different by design

Demographic upheavals, the rise of digital technology, rapid business-model innovation, and socially driven evolution in the employer-employee relationship are all creating talent challenges and potential solutions radically different from those faced by previous generations of leaders.

Organizational models: Moving to networks of teams

Hierarchical organizational models are giving way to networks of teams to keep pace with the challenges of a fluid, unpredictable world.

Leadership awakened: Identifying future business leaders

How can organizations identify future business leaders across age groups, genders, and cultures to take charge in an increasingly complex global marketplace?

Impact of culture on business strategy

As corporate culture continues to be viewed as a potential competitive advantage, new tools can help leaders measure and manage culture towards alignment with business goals.

Employee engagement and retention: Always on

Under the evolving social contract between employer and employee, workers become “volunteers” to be reengaged and re-recruited each day.

Fostering a culture of learning for employees

As employee learning and development becomes a self-driven pursuit, corporate learning departments are becoming content curators and experience facilitators.

Employee experience management: Design thinking

By putting employee experience first, design thinking can help improve productivity by designing solutions that are at once compelling, enjoyable, and simple.

Changing role of HR: New skills needed

As companies change the way they are organized, they must embrace the changing role of human resources as well.

People analytics in HR: Gaining speed

With the growing adoption of people analytics, HR now has the chance to demonstrate ROI on its analytics efforts.

Digital HR: Technology for HR teams

Digital technologies could allow HR leaders to revolutionize the employee experience through new digital platforms, apps, and ways of delivering HR services.

The gig economy: Engaging the freelance workforce

Networks of freelance workers and the growing use of machines as talent are both reshaping the talent management equation.

Register for the Global HC Trends 2016 MOOC

Created in collaboration with Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.

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