BusinessWeek Research Services (BWRS) launched a research program in spring 2007 to determine the views of senior human resources (HR) and information technology (IT) executives and CEOs on the talent shortage that is hitting, or will soon hit, many industry sectors and on how workforce planning through the use of workforce analytics can help executives address this coming crisis.

This paper includes in-depth telephone interviews with senior executives at large and midsize companies known to be employing talent management techniques as well as content from presentations given at industry conferences on the topic. Among the organizations included in the research for this report are:

- Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc.

- Rio Tinto Ltd.

- Bombardier Inc.

- A North American eyeglass retailer

- Florida Power & Light Co.