Each year we focus on topics that go further than continuous improvement and seek to drive innovation for the world-class workforce. HR executives are constantly challenged with making the right investments, balancing standardization, and customization, and redirecting investment from areas with low impact to areas of higher value based on evidence. This drives not only a need for optimization but also risk management in knowing when and when not to take a risk with a differing approach. Simultaneously HR people benefit from gaining ‘employee insight’ through methods such as employee attitude surveys and focus groups. This insight should inform the HR strategy, influence how internal communications are handled and help in the design of effective people management initiatives – hence a clear employer branding strategy should be prevalent.