For the last two Octobers we have travelled to the HR Technology Conference to see four HR software providers show off their software in the Talent Management Shootout. While the Shootout is a relatively short event at 75 minutes (each vendor gets about a total of 10-15 minutes of demonstration time), there are often as many as 1,000 HR professionals voting, so the results are often very indicative of buyer needs, market trends, and key innovations in the market.

This year the conference focused on integrated end-to-end solutions and featured Lawson, Plateau, Salary.com, and SAP. Each vendor was asked to demonstrate a range of scenarios co-authored by one of our analysts and co-chair Bill Kutik, including:

• Integrated performance management and development, from an employee’s  perspective:  the employee can access their profile and goals, view performance reviews and developmental suggestions, look for other jobs of interest, find gaps in their competencies, and create development plans to fill their deficiencies and achieve their career aspirations.


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