This book shows how the cost of losing human knowledge in a technology-intensive world seriously affects organizational success. It explains what leaders must do to retain critical know-how as millions of aging baby boomers begin retiring from the workforce in the next decade. This aging workforce will produce an unprecedented skills shortage in many sectors. Particularly at risk is the tacit or experiential knowledge needed to maintain high levels of performance in today's complex technological, scientific, and management fields. The book shows how this threatened loss of intellectual capital ... More

This book shows how the cost of losing human knowledge in a technology-intensive world seriously affects organizational success. It explains what leaders must do to retain critical know-how as millions of aging baby boomers begin retiring from the workforce in the next decade. This aging workforce will produce an unprecedented skills shortage in many sectors. Particularly at risk is the tacit or experiential knowledge needed to maintain high levels of performance in today's complex technological, scientific, and management fields. The book shows how this threatened loss of intellectual capital or “brain drain” can be addressed with increased attention to workforce planning, knowledge management, and knowledge retention initiatives. It provides a framework and action plan to help managers tackle the interdependent challenges of increased retirements, more competitive recruiting, and greater turnover among mid-career employees created by changing workforce demographics.