Book excerpt: As the industry's foremost voice for human resources certification, the HR Certification Institute has brought together the world's leading HR experts to share insights on our profession through this inaugural Institute-sponsored publication that is being distributed globally in an effort to advance the HR profession. Seventy-three human resources thought leaders from across the globe volunteered to contribute their expertise to this compilation of wisdom regarding the HR profession. Together, their contributions offer a comprehensive look into the critical issues transforming human resources-one of the fastest-growing professions in the workplace and one that is being influenced by many factors, including technological developments and globalization.