There is an increasing amount of evidence that successful organizations put people first. Why? Astute managers have come to learn that their organization's employees are its only true competitive advantage. Competitors can match most organization's products,processes,locations,distribution channels,and the like. What's far more difficult to emulate is a workforce made up of highly knowledgeable and motivated people.The characteristic that differentiates successful companies from their less successful counterparts in almost every industry is the quality of the people they're able to get and keep.