Sourcing

Sourcing is a term used in human resources to describe an organization using external candidates in its staffing plan. The challenge with sourcing, to hiring internal employees to fill positions, is that fewer qualified candidates are exposed to the opportunity. Sourcing can also be a risky endeavor when conducted exclusively or extended over a long period. When executives depend too heavily on external hires, they may find themselves outside their primary area of expertise or suffer from inadequate succession planning.