Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) has released its forecasts for the 2008 workplace, as "predicted" by Vice President of Research Mark Vickers (although he prefers to call them "educated guesses"). These bullets below are summaries, and while we hope we don't misquote, there is always that chance.

Here are a few "educated guesses":

• Focus on performance measurement
  With 2006 seeing the lowest U.S. productivity rate increase since 1995 and the first half of 2007 looking even worse, expect a stronger focus on performance management. With large gains in productivity in technology firms in China, 95% of 157 HR professionals surveys byHuman Resource Executive said that over the next 24 months, performance management will be either very important or important.
• A growing focus on legacies as well as retirements
  86% of 210 respondents from i4cp'sLeader Legacy Survey said that leaving a professional legacy is a priority, which means that as Baby Boomers begin to retire, they will be looking to cement their place in "business history". Future-looking companies will assess how to take these factors into account.
• Acquisitions of U.S. firms
  Mergers and acquisitions activity in 2008 are predicted to be driven by corporate and foreign buyers. Watch for more international buyers to take advantage of a weak dollar.
• Retaining and developing talent
  Most of 524 respondents from an i4cp talent management survey said that they believe their companies aren't very good at talent management. Retaining talent and developing leaders will be among the top priorities of high-level HR executives.
• Taking on multitasking
  Studies have shown that multitasking basically comes down to rapid toggling among tasks rather than simultaneous processing. Of course, the desire to multitask is stronger than ever these days, and in 2008, employeers will focus more on "tools and strategies for addressing this problem".
• Tackling skills and knowledge deficits among young people
  Worker skill levels will become a rising concern, especially in terms of reading abilities. A recent "report card" found that there was a six-point decline in average 12th-grade reading scores between 1992 and 2005. New approaches will have to be taken, including providing/funding remedial education, initiating programs that encourage reading or adjusting strategies to better tackle how young people in a multimedia environment learn. Learning, working, communicating and entertainment will begin to blend, if they haven't already.
• Staying agile and resilient
  Organizations need to remove adaptable in 2008. The safest forecasts for 2008 is that some unexpected things will happen, and companies need to be prepared to lunge at new opportunities and take hits at the same time.

More research in regards to this subject can be found at i4cp's TrendWatcher productivity research section.