Chapter 10: Talent Management

Question 1

Thunissen et al & Collings and Mellahi explanations for the popularity of TM

Answer 1

1. ageing population
2. globalization - war of talents
3. international mobility
4. knowledge-based activities are more popular
5. getting a seat at the high management table for HR
6. management consultants describe it as powerful market domain

Question 2

subject approach

Answer 2

talent as people

Question 3

object approach

Answer 3

talent as characteristics of people

Question 4

inclusive approach

Answer 4

all employees

Question 5

exclusive approach

Answer 5

a specific group of employees ; pool of talent

Question 6

hard approaches

Answer 6

subject approach + exclusive approach

Question 7

soft approaches

Answer 7

objective approach + inclusive approach

Question 8

Boudreau and Ramstad

A players

Answer 8

pivotal talents representing a broad range of high potentials

Question 9

Archetypes of TM

Answer 9

1. high potential competition - represents the hard approach
2. HRM - soft approach
3. Talent differentiation - everybody is a talent but in specific talent areas or domains
4. talent specialization - clear distinction of talents and non-talents, focus is on KSA and function

Question 10

Davies and Davies def of TM

Answer 10

Talent management is the systematic attraction,
identification, development, engagement/retention and deployment of those individuals with high
potential who are of particular value of an organization

Question 11

Collings and Mellahi def of TM

Answer 11

Activities and processes that involve the systematic
identification of key positions which differentially contribute to the organization’s sustainable
competitive advantage, the development of a talent pool of high potential and high performing
incumbents to fill these roles, and the development of a differentiated human resource architecture
to facilitate filling these positions with competent incumbents and to ensure their continued
commitment to the organization.

Question 12

important elements in Collings and Mellahi def

Answer 12

• key positions
• sustainable comp adv
• talent pool
• HR architecture

Question 13

the building blocks for TM thinking

Answer 13

human capital theory and RBV

Question 14

Lepak and Snell 4 employee groups

Answer 14

1. knowledgable - who possess core knowledge and are essential for an org in terms of their uniqueness and strategic value
2. Alliance partners - unique knowledge but not necessarily internalized
3. job-based employees - posses knowledge but not unique; easily replaceable
4. Contract workers - outsourced activities, cleaning etc

Question 15

MNCs TM

Answer 15

mostly hard apporach

Question 16

succession planning

Answer 16

detecting, attracting, developing and

socializing future leaders of an organization