No Surprises Here: Survey Participants Point To HR Issues As The No. 1 Challenge That Firms Face...

Participants in IPA's annual survey are asked to cite the three most significant issues that firms face in the next year. Staff recruiting and retention remains the issue cited as most significant, as it was last year. Succession planning takes the second spot, up from No. 3 last year.

Leadership training also climbs significantly up the list, while concerns about regulation take a fall. Appearing on the list for the first time this year: organizational effectiveness and rising staff costs. Falling out of the list from last year are branding and marketing, workload compression/staff management, improving the profession's image and liability/risk management.