Lost Knowledge: Confronting the Threat of an Aging Workforce - Hardcover

David W. DeLong

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195170970 ISBN 13: 9780195170979

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Executives today recognize that their firms face a wave of retirements over the next decade as the baby boomers hit retirement age. At the other end of the talent pipeline, the younger workforce is developing a different set of values and expectations, which creates new recruiting and employee retention issues. The evolution from an older, traditional, highly-experienced workforce to a younger, more mobile, employee base poses significant challenges, particularly when considered in the context of the long-term orientation towards downsizing and cost cutting. This is a solution-oriented book to address one of the most pressing management problems of the coming years: How do organizations transfer the critical expertise and experience of their employees before that knowledge walks out the door? It begins by outlining the broad issues and providing tools for developing a knowledge-retention strategy and function. It then goes on to outline best practices for retaining knowledge, including knowledge transfer practices, using technology to enable knowledge retention, retaining older workers and retirees, and outsourcing lost capabilities.

About this title

About the Author

David W. DeLong is a research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab and an adjunct professor at Babson College where he teaches a course on "Leading Change." He has consulted and lectured in many countries and is a widely published writer whose work has appeared in leading journals and magazines.

Review

"Raises the intriguing question: Are companies ready to deal with the loss of intellectual capital that comes from workers' retirement?"--The New York Times

"Whether it's a veteran marketing manager at General Mills or an international tax accountant at Dupont, specialized knowledge in the heads of departing employees can cost companies millions to replace -- if it can be done at all. For the serious student of "knowledge retention," DeLong's book is an excellent primer. "--Minneapolis Star Tribune

"David DeLong offers advice and perspective that managers in different settings can use to prepare for expected turnover and attrition of mid-career employees."--HBS Working Knowledge

'Lost Knowledge is readable and is written in a reflective style with a scholarly tone[I]t will help leaders to begin to address the process of developing knowledge retention strategies."--People Management

"...when an employee walks out the door, they are taking with them new types of knowledge that didn't exist a generation agoDeLong's book offers some detailed blueprints for addressing the problem-from making sure your electronic files are not lost on a hard drive to creating programs to keep the retirees connected to the organizationIt's a fascinating read."--The Concord Journal

"An important timely book..."--Library Journal

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0195170970
• ISBN 13: 9780195170979
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272