2. Human Capital and Employee Engagement—Global and National Viewpoints

In this chapter, UK productivity performance is reviewed in order to provide context for a book which, in essence, is about improving productivity. This analysis is also undertaken to demonstrate the criticality and relevance of human capital management to the national interest. In the words of Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (2013), ‘the key to the future of any country and any institution lies in the talent, skills and capabilities of its people’. Other sources drawn upon will be reports from the World Economic Forum 1 (WEF), regarding the international consideration of human capital, the work of two consultancies (AON Hewitt and ORC International) and several professional institutes, with respect to global employee engagement.