The World Bank supports a broad range of programs geared toward alleviating poverty and improving the living standards of the poorest people in the world. Bilateral agencies, regional development banks, and institutions such as government-sponsored development agencies have also reoriented their programs to address the same issues. The president of the World Bank, James D. Wolfensohn, points out, "There are too many people dying due to lack of vaccines, and the world is showing an increasing inequity." Furthermore, as "We come to the next millennium," we face a "digital and electronic revolution" with enormous implications for the developing world. Consequently, sharing global knowledge and best practices among institutions is essential because, "Only by involving a very large number of development factors, informed by development know-how and best practices, can the Bank achieve its mission."

Around 1978, CEO Robert Buckman (son of founder Stanley Buckman) began to realize that Buckman Laboratories could not successfully compete with a product-driven strategy. He began to steer the company toward a "customer-driven" focus. He led the company toward concentrating on markets and customers saying, "Cash flow is generated on the front line with the customers."

This chapter tells a story-born out of necessity- about curtailing anticipated hemorrhaging of outbound talent by proactively addressing development needs throughout the work-life cycle, beginning with recruiting and continuing through retention efforts. The attempt would be made to reduce outplacement by focusing on in-placement.