About Haig
Haig Nalbantian is a pioneering human capital economist and workforce scientist, known for developing the "Workforce Sciences" approach to managing human capital and contributing as an expert faculty member to the Best Practice Institute.
Who is Haig Nalbantian?
Haig Nalbantian is a recognized leader in the field of workforce science. He co-leads and co-founded the independent Workforce Sciences Institute (WSI) alongside Rick Guzzo, an entity spun out from Mercer where he previously served as Senior Partner for 25 years. Nalbantian's career spans over 35 years, focusing on applying empirical methods to workforce management challenges.
He is known for integrating economic principles with organizational psychology and statistical methods to develop an asset management approach to workforce strategy. His work has significantly shaped how organizations approach human capital measurement, analytics, and strategic alignment, moving beyond traditional benchmarks to behavioral data.
Quick facts about Haig Nalbantian
| Role | Co-leader and Co-founder |
| Company | Workforce Sciences Institute |
| Expertise | Workforce Analytics, Human Capital Management, Internal Labor Market Modeling, Organizational Psychology |
| Notable for | Pioneering "Workforce Sciences", ILM mapping, co-founding Mercer's Workforce Sciences Institute |
| BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |
What is Haig Nalbantian known for?
- Pioneering "Workforce Sciences": Developing a new science of human capital management that integrates economics, organizational psychology, and statistical methods.
- Internal Labor Market (ILM) Mapping and Modeling: Co-developed this methodology in the early 1990s to quantify and understand the dynamics of talent flows within organizations, informing workforce strategies and diversity & inclusion efforts.
- Workforce Sciences Institute: Co-founded and co-leads the independent Workforce Sciences Institute, formerly part of Mercer, dedicated to advanced research and application of workforce analytics.
- Interdisciplinary Team Approach: Advocating for and building teams of economists, organizational psychologists, and data scientists to interpret complex workforce data and provide actionable insights.
- Book Authorship: Co-authored Managing Your Internal Labor Markets for Lasting Competitive Advantage (McGraw-Hill, 2004), a seminal work on ILM applications.
- Career Equity: Contributing research and articles on fostering career equity through proactive management and opening access to advancement pathways.
What is Haig Nalbantian's background and experience?
Haig Nalbantian's career spans over three decades dedicated to the empirical study and strategic management of human capital. Before co-founding the independent Workforce Sciences Institute, he spent 33 years within the Mercer/MMC family, serving for 25 years as a Senior Partner at Mercer. There, he was a founding member and director of global research for Mercer's human capital business.
He co-founded Mercer's Workforce Sciences Institute, which began as an R&D unit in 1994, evolving into a full business practice focused on developing and implementing methods to measure workforce and business impact of people practices. His work has consistently centered on applying rigorous analytical discipline to workforce challenges, bridging data analytics with strategic forecasting for organizational planning.
What topics does Haig Nalbantian speak and write about?
Haig Nalbantian focuses on the strategic importance of human capital in driving business performance. His discussions often revolve around how organizations can move beyond traditional HR metrics to a more scientific, data-driven approach to workforce management. He emphasizes the power of interdisciplinary teams—combining economists, organizational psychologists, and data scientists—to generate comprehensive insights from workforce data.
His publications and interviews delve into critical issues such as the design of equitable reward systems, the use of behavioral data over static benchmarks, and the strategic alignment of workforce practices with business goals. Nalbantian also frequently addresses the application of his Internal Labor Market mapping methodology to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and to foster career mobility within organizations. He has written on the critical importance of roles in career equity and how to open access to the fast track for career progression.
How does Haig Nalbantian contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
As an expert faculty member of the Best Practice Institute, Haig Nalbantian contributes his deep expertise in workforce sciences and human capital strategy to BPI's mission of identifying and disseminating leading practices. His insights align with BPI's framework for creating Most Loved Workplaces® by emphasizing data-driven approaches to employee experience, talent development, and organizational effectiveness. His work supports the SPARK Model by providing methodologies for understanding and optimizing the "Meaning, Autonomy, Achievement, and Recognition" that drive employee engagement and organizational success.
While specific BPI webinars are not on record, his contributions to the broader discourse on human capital management provide BPI members with advanced perspectives on how to build thriving, analytically-driven organizations. His focus on internal labor markets and career equity directly informs strategies aimed at fostering a workplace where all employees feel valued and have opportunities for growth, a core tenet of the Most Loved Workplace® certification.
Where can you learn more from Haig Nalbantian?
To gain insights from Haig Nalbantian's research and perspectives, explore his articles on reputable platforms such as CFO.com and MIT Sloan Review. His work is also featured in interviews discussing workforce analytics and human capital. Further information can be found through the Workforce Sciences Institute and his co-authored book, Managing Your Internal Labor Markets for Lasting Competitive Advantage.