In an era of exciting new technologies, virtual reality (VR) may be the most compelling of them all. Consumer VR systems, such as the Oculus Rift, are growing in popularity, as the technology has grown more refined and costs have been lowered. After decades of false starts, VR has reached a point where the experiences are immersive enough to truly feel real. As the world's largest tech companies pour billions into VR research, we're likely to see startling advances in the power and application of VR.

If anyone should feel confident about the future, it is those working in the healthcare industry. Thanks to a rapidly aging population and advances in late-life medicine, job growth in the healthcare field has been stratospheric. The field employs more than one in 10 Americans, and is projected to add more jobs than any other industry over the next decade.

Similar to every other major industry, food manufacturing isn't immune to the rapid advance of technology and changing market conditions. The global food giant, Kellogg, recently announced it would lay off 1,100 workers in a bid to improve efficiency. The layoffs, which follow similar job reductions at other major industry producers, come at a time of great change in the grocery industry.

The United Kingdom is rightly celebrated as an engine of global finance, with many observers now saying London has supplanted New York City as the world's top financial center. London is home to a long roster of international financial heavyweights and is regularly ranked as one of the most desirable markets to work in by finance industry professionals.

Many businesses think long and hard before they decide to outsource critical business functions. This is especially true in the case of human resources. Workforce management has never been more important, as more firms have recognized that talent is the ultimate competitive advantage. To make an informed and well-grounded decision, every organization must evaluate the benefits of outsourcing to determine if it right for them.

A great deal has been written about the gender gap in STEM fields. But what isn't quite as well-known is the persistent gender disparity in the worlds of venture capital and private equity. Historically, high finance has been a male-dominated endeavor. And despite efforts to promote inclusiveness, the gap remains staggering.

With Congress failing to pass the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA), it is a good time to examine the impact this will have on the healthcare sector. After spending years overseeing the sometimes messy and expensive transition to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), hospitals, insurance firms and other organizations tied to the healthcare industry faced the prospect of starting over if the AHCA had passed. Now that it appears Obamacare will remain the law of the land, these stakeholders have greater certainty about the future of healthcare in America.

If you are looking for a systematic way to improve business performance, you may want to consider Lean Six Sigma. By eliminating waste and focusing on lean enterprise and manufacturing principles, organizations can revamp their processes and jump-start performance.