Bob Scott's Insights Newsletter will not be published next Friday, July 1. Enjoy the Fourth of July weekend. Publication will resume on Friday, July 8. During that period, news will continue to be posted to this website. The newsletter is published 48 times a year and I get time off for good behavior the other Fridays.

Deltek has published Talent Management for Dummies, the ninth book in its For Dummies Series. The Herndon, Va.-based software company says the downloadable publication discusses concepts of an effective "people" strategy in a way intended to be easy to understand. Components of talent management covered in the book include the acquisition, development, and retention of top talent along with implementing technology to support a strong talent strategy.

Every year, I total exhibitors and sponsors for shows like Sage Summit which is being held in Chicago at the end of July. My view is the totals looks good. My combined count for the medal sponsor categories is 135. Last year, I started three weeks earlier so I will not compare those numbers. But my sense is Sage made substantial gains in numbers in the last weeks of 2015 and that it should come in well ahead of last year's total which I had at 124.