Aligning Workforce With Business Objectives

How Best-in-Class Leverage Workforce Core Competencies to Improve Employee Performance and Impact Key Pre- and Post-Hire Performance Metrics


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - September 6, 2007) - In the new benchmark report, "Competency Management: The Link Between Talent Management and Optimum Business Results," Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks company (NYSE: HHS), found that while 70% of all organizations surveyed focus on Employee Performance as the key metric to impact through competency management efforts, 89% of Best-in-Class organizations are able to increase employee performance versus only 33% of Industry Average and none of Laggards. This report highlights how Best-in-Class performers are using a combination of strategies, processes and technology solutions to align the workforce with business objectives and impact key pre- and post-hire performance metrics.

"Competency management has been around for many years, but we're seeing significant focus on this area due, in large part, to organizations placing a premium on measuring quantifiable output of human capital and determining organizational 'fit' based more on behaviors. As a matter of fact, we found that 92% of Best-in-Class organizations have competency models in place, are in the process of defining core competencies, or are budgeted to start within 12 months," said Kevin Martin, Research Director, Human Capital Management at Aberdeen.

In addition to increasing employee performance, organizations that integrate competency management are also able to reduce employee turnover and increase revenue per employee.

The data also shows that Best-in-Class are now looking to leverage and integrate knowledge of workforce core competencies to not only improve pre-hire performance, but also to provide strategic insight into post-hire elements. To this point, 55% of Best-in-Class companies have utilized competency management to identify specific knowledge gaps that can be resolved through learning, and an additional 43% plan to do so over the next year.

This report examines how global enterprises are utilizing competency management strategies to create a more flexible and agile workforce, and improve workforce productivity. In addition to providing insight into what Best-in-Class companies are doing, this report also offers recommended actions that all companies can take to implement and improve competency management efforts and achieve competitive advantage.

This report is made available to the public due in part by the following underwriters: Profiles International and Saba. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=4314

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen™ for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.

© 2007 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Contact Information: Media Contact: Kevin Martin Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5314 kevin.martin@aberdeen.com