February 2013 issue of Profit Magazine

Your February 2013 issue of Profit is now available athttp://www.profitmagazine-digital.com/profitmagazine/201302/

Just after Oracle acquired cloud-based talent management company Taleo in early 2012, the company's former vice president of research, David Wilkins shared some statistics with me about the challenging environment managers face competing for workers in the global marketplace: the US faces a deficit of 3 million workers with post-secondary degrees, China a shortfall of 70,000 executives capable of leading global expansion, and 70 percent of German companies report challenges finding the "right people."

But managers are certainly not helpless in the face of headwind in the global talent market. With the right talent management strategies, corporate culture, IT tools, and (of course) people, many organizations can be inoculated against the skills malaise. But it will require long-term vision and early action.

This issue of Profit looks at some of the forces at work in the market and some of the smart, creative efforts Oracle customers are making to address talent issues in their organizations. I hope the stories prove useful as we face the coming skills gap together.

Mind the Gap
Getting greater value from millennial and baby boomer employees

Breakthrough Talent
Enterprise systems help employers cope with the global skills shortage.

Chain Reaction
Built on sound IT and standard processes, LinkedIn?s finance department goes from startup to IPO—and beyond.

Giving Up Control
How empowered customers and employees make your business stronger

Going for the Gold
NBC Sports Group CMO John Miller says social engagement can return unprecedented marketing results.

Innovation at Work
How smart IT solutions are inspiring fresh ideas among the workforce