Google Tackles Brain Drain

Patt Morrison
FM89.3 KPCC, National Public Radio (NPR)
May 19, 2009

Click here to listen to the complete interview.

For years Google has been using a patented algorithm to bring them closer and closer to what they hope to one day achieve, the perfect search engine. Now the company is using that same approach on its employees. Google has come up with an algorithm to help them crunch the numbers on who on their staff of 20,000 is most likely to quit. The company believes that the data will help them prevent more people from leaving a company that some believe to have reached its innovative plateau. This interview discusses new strategies in employee retainment and how the numbers might know you are ready to walk before even you do.

Featured guests:
John Boudreau, professor and research director of the Center for Effective Organizations at USC's Marshall School of Business.
Valerie Frederickson, president and CEO of Valerie Frederickson & Company, a human resources executive search and HR consulting firm based in Menlo Park, California.


Patt Morrison is a live two-hour public affairs show airing weekdays at 1 p.m. The program is known for its innovative discussions of local politics and culture, and for its presentation of national and world news as it affects Southern California.