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Talent management in practice in A ustralia: individualistic or strategic? An exploratory study
Author(s) -
Jones Janice T,
Whitaker Marian,
Seet PiShen,
Parkin Jarrad
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7941.2012.00036.x
Subject(s) - human resource management , individualism , talent management , perspective (graphical) , business , knowledge management , competitive advantage , strategic management , strategic human resource planning , flexibility (engineering) , competence (human resources) , exploratory research , human resources , competence based management , qualitative research , strategic planning , marketing , management , strategic financial management , sociology , political science , computer science , economics , artificial intelligence , anthropology , law , social science
Drawing on the results of a qualitative study involving senior human resources ( HR ) practitioners and executives, this paper explores the nature of talent management in A ustralia, including whether organisations adopt an ‘individualistic’ or ‘star’ perspective or a more systems‐level, strategic perspective on talent management. The results suggest that there is heterogeneity in how organisations execute talent management with a spectrum of approaches ranging from what is, in essence, a relabelling of human resource management ( HRM ), with a narrow functional focus; through to integrated HRM , with an exclusive individual focus; to a more organisationally focused competence development approach. We find evidence of an emphasis on the identification of key positions that can add significant competitive advantage and differentiated HR ‘architecture’ associated with a more strategic perspective in some organisations. Overall, the study finds little indication of a systems‐level, strategic perspective, with most firms taking an individualistic approach to talent management.