While the Chinese Olympic team seems ready for competition, it’s the rest of the talent landscape that’s concerning business.

The talent shortage in China is well documented. In a recent attraction and retention survey conducted by Mercer, 72 per cent of respondents said the number one challenge in recruiting staff was a lack of qualified candidates in the Chinese market. But for most multinationals operating in the country, this is only the beginning of the relay.

Once the gun goes off, how do you keep staff engaged and motivated to cross the finish line? The ability to develop and keep the best and brightest stars, including an elusive cadre of current and emerging leaders, has surfaced as a key trouble spot for most multinationals.