Bersin & Associates Expands Research Coverage

Bersin & Associates, the only research and advisory firm focused on enterprise learning and talent management, is expanding its research coverage to encompass talent acquisition, including the areas of corporate recruiting, sourcing, and talent planning. The company has also added a new principal analyst, Madeline Laurano, to its research team.

Laurano will cover a wide range of topics – including onboarding, applicant tracking and assessment, sourcing strategies, employer branding, talent acquisition systems, and the use of social networking in corporate recruiting. She has recently completed two research bulletins: Social Media as a Recruitment Tool and Employer Referral Programs in Todayís Economy, both available for a limited time on a complimentary basis.

Laurano has also created All Aboard, a new blog covering all aspects of talent acquisition. Recent postings cover the use of Twitter for corporate recruiting, recruiting in a recession, and talent acquisition predictions for 2009.

Laurano has already begun work on the companyís first industry study of talent acquisition systems, scheduled for publication by June 1. The study, based on both quantitative and qualitative data, will examine the current use of talent acquisition technology in organizations, the user experiences related to these applications and tools, along with a comprehensive view of the market and profiles of major technology providers. Corporate recruiters, solution providers, and social networking companies interested in participating in this study can email info@bersin.com.

ìIn this tough business climate, talent planning, talent acquisition, and the use of social networking for employer branding and recruiting are critical elements of any companyís talent management strategy. In addition, companies such as Taleo, Silkroad, iCIMS, JobFox, and LinkedIn are bringing exciting new solutions to the market,î said Josh Bersin , president. ìWe see a tremendous need in the corporate community for in-depth research, analysis, and guidance in these areas. Our goal is to give talent acquisition managers up-to-date information and best-practice research to help implement the most effective and up-to-date strategies, programs, and systems.

ìI am thrilled to be part of Bersin & Associates,î said Laurano. ìIíve long been impressed by the quality of its research and its integrity in working with solution providers. I believe my analyst background and my experience in directly working with the recruiting community will bring a valuable perspective to Bersin & Associates research members.î

Prior to joining Bersin & Associates, Laurano served as the research director for ERE Media, where she created the ERE webinar series, published the Talent Acquisition Industry Analysis and Buyers Guide, led community discussion groups, and had responsibility for various research products and services. Laurano also worked as a research analyst for the Aberdeen Group and as a research director for Linkage, Inc., where she co-edited Best Practices in Leading a Global Workforce and Secrets in Succession Planning.

Laurano holds bachelorís and masterís degrees from Boston University.

Laurano is conducting two upcoming webinars: Onboarding, A Generational Melting Pot, January 14, 2:00 p.m. EST; and Social Networking Sites to Effectively Attract Top Talent, February 26, 2:00 p.m. EST. Registration for both webinars is complimentary.