JANUARY 2017HR TECH OUTLOOK8In MyOpinionRetaining Talent in OrganizationsStephen Kelly, CHRO, Avanade Three ways organizations can win the war for talent in the digital ageWhen author Ed Michaels and his colleagues coined the phrase "War for Talent" in a 1997 book about the topic, they predicted that enduring economic and social forces would make the war for talent a strategic competitive differentiator for companies over the next two decades. Little did they know just how relevant their theory would be in the digital age, where the influx of smart technologies (including connected things, intelligent automation and even robots) are dramatically disrupting how and where we work. Not only is it easier to attract and retain the right talent with these new tools, it also easier for talent to leave. So how will businesses compete for talent in this brave new world? Organizations must put into place three critical ingredients that include:A modern digital workplace that provides the tools needed to succeed.The same technologies that are expected to digitize business operations, drive revenue growth and improve the customer experience are believed to be the secret weapon in attracting and retaining top talent. (Avanade's own global survey backs this up, with 92 percent of global business and IT leaders ByStephen Kellypredicting it will be easier for organizations to attract and retain top talent as they increase their reliance on smart technologies in the workplace.)It's not the tools themselves that necessarily make a company more attractive, but rather what they have the potential to do: empower employees to do their jobs more effectively, make it easier to collaborate with one another and achieve business results. Mobility adds incredible flexibility, providing access to company systems to do their jobs from wherever they happen to be. (A great example of this is Delta Airlines, who have completely automated their in-flight systems to empower their flight attendants to provide a better customer experience. This in turn has heightened the employees' satisfaction with their jobs.)An organization that embraces change and innovation gives people a reason to stay. While the companies consistently placed in the Best Workplaces in IT tend to pay well, research shows the best pulled ahead of their peers by going far beyond compensation and giving their people the level of autonomy and professional engagement they need to innovate. Avanade's survey of employees who have stayed between two to five years illustrates this point.
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