Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Talent Management: Gestation, Birth, and Innovation Diffusion

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Managing Talent

Abstract

This chapter summarizes how the term ‘talent’ gradually became incorporated into mainstream thinking about business operations in the twentieth century leading up to the ‘birth’ of a new management meme: talent management. Socio-economic conditions prevailing at the time of the birth are summarized. Using ideas from memetics, the chapter focuses on explaining why the talent meme has been so effective (and infective). Five features of the meme are identified that explain why it has found so many hosts. These are similarities with other, related, memes; the lack of a competing meme; ambiguity in what talent and talent management mean; the appeal of celebrity in times of attention deficits; and the promise of power and status to those behind talent programmes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    ‘Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognises genius’, Arthur Conan Doyle.

References

  • Abrahamson, M. (1973). Talent complementarity and organizational stratification. Administrative Science Quarterly, 18(2), 186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abrahamson, E., & Rosenkopf, L. (1997). Social network effects on the extent of innovation diffusion: A computer simulation. Organization Science, 8, 289–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adamsen, B. (2016). Demystifying talent management: A critical approach to the realities of talent. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, M. (1985). Stardom and talent. The American Economic Review, 75, 208–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adler, M. (2006). Stardom and talent. In V. A. Ginsburgh & D. Throsby (Eds.), Handbook of the economics of art and culture (Vol. 1, pp. 895–906). Amsterdam: North Holland.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Atadil, H. A., Sirakaya-Turk, E., Baloglu, S., & Kirillova, K. (2017). Destination neurogenetics: Creation of destination meme maps of tourists. Journal of Business Research, 74, 154–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bach, S. (2010). Human resource management in the public sector. In A. Wilkinson, N. Bacon, T. Redman, & S. Snell (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of human resource management (pp. 561–577). London: SAGE.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barley, S. R., & Kunda, G. (1992). Design and devotion: Surges of rational and normative ideologies of control in managerial discourse. Administrative Science Quarterly, 37, 363–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, H. C. (2015). The shape of thought: How mental adaptations evolve. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, B. E., & Huselid, M. A. (1998). High performance work systems and firm performance. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 16, 53–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, B. E., & Huselid, M. A. (2006). Strategic human resource management: Where do we go from here. Journal of Management, 32, 898–925.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benders, J., & van Veen, K. (2001). What’s in a fashion? Interpretive viability and management fashions. Organization, 8, 33–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borland, J. H. (2005). Gifted education without gifted children: The case for no conception of giftedness. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), Conceptions of giftedness (2nd ed., pp. 1–19). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, D. W. (1954). Issues in the study of talent. New York: Kings Crown Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodie, R. (2009). Virus of the mind: The new science of the meme. London: Hay House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cappelli, P. (2009). What’s old is new again: Managerial ‘talent’ in an historical context. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 28, 179–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappelli, P., & Keller, J. R. (2014). Talent management: Conceptual approaches and practical challenges. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 305–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappelli, P., & Keller, J. R. (2017). The historical context of talent management. In D. G. Collings, K. Mellahi, & W. F. Cascio (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of talent management (pp. 23–42). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, E. G., Foulon, M., Handfield-Jones, H., Hankin, S., & Michaels, E. (1998). The war for talent. The McKinsey Quarterly, 3, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., & Fang, W. (2008). The moderating effect of impression management on the organizational politics-performance relationship. Journal of Business Ethics, 79, 263–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collings, D. G. (2015). The contribution of talent management to organizational success. In K. Kraiger, J. Passmore, N. Rubelo dos Santos, & S. Malvezzi (Eds.), The psychology of training, development and performance (pp. 247–260). Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collings, D. G. (2017). Workforce differentiation. In D. G. Collings, K. Mellahi, & W. F. Cascio (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of talent management (pp. 299–317). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K., & Moore, W. E. (1944). Some principles of stratification. American Sociological Review, 10(2), 242–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawkins, R. (1976). The selfish gene. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boeck, G., Meyers, M. C., & Dries, N. (2018). Employee reactions to talent management: Assumptions vs evidence. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(2), 199–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, M. R., & Bartlett, T. E. (1983). Innovations in talent identification. S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal, 48(4), 16–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias, N. (1983). The court society. Oxford, UK: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faris, R. (1936). Sociological factors in the development of talent and genius. Journal of Educational Sociology, 9, 538–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fegley, S. (2006). 2006 talent management survey report. Alexandria, VA: Society for Human Resource Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, V. (1904). Ein Beitrag zur definition von Genie und Talent [A contribution to the definition of genius and talent]. Annalen der Naturphilosophie, 3, 233–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleetwood, S., & Hesketh, A. (2010). Explaining the performance of human resource management. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gagne, F. (2013). Yes, giftedness (aka “innate” talent) does exist. In S. B. Kaufman (Ed.), The complexity of greatness (pp. 191–221). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gergaud, O., & Ginsberg, V. (2010). Stardom and perceived talent. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Olivier_Gergaud2/publication/267263675_Stardom_and_Perceived_Talent/links/549029600cf214269f265aa4/Stardom-and-Perceived-Talent.pdf. Accessed 11 May 2018.

  • Ghiselli, E. E. (Ed.). (1971). Explorations in managerial talent. Santa Monica, CA: Goodyear Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaister, A., Karacay, G., Demirbag, M., & Tatoglu, E. (2018). HRM and performance – The role of talent management as a transmission mechanism in an emerging market context. Human Resource Management Journal, 28(1), 148–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gospel, H. (2010). Human resources management: A historical perspective. In A. Wilkinson, N. Bacon, T. Redman, & S. Snell (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of human resource management (pp. 12–30). London: SAGE.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Greenway, D. (2002). Henry of Huntingdon. The history of the English people 1000–1154. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadley, A. T. (1888). Some difficulties of public personnel management. Political Science Quarterly, 3(4), 572–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, J. R. (1966). High-talent personnel: Managing a critical resource. New York: American Management Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husen, T. (1972). Talent, opportunity and career. Stockholm: Almqvist and Wiksell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iles, P., Preece, D., & Chuai, X. (2010). Talent management as a management fashion in HRD: Towards a research agenda. Human Resource Development International, 13, 125–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Istvan, D. (1991). Coming full circle in practice management. Journal of Accountancy, 171(5), 142–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, R. (1978). Is beauty talent? Sex interaction in the attractiveness halo effect. Sex Roles, 4(2), 195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, S. B. (Ed.). (2013). The complexity of greatness: Beyond talent or practice. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamertz, K., & Aquino, K. (2004). Social power, social status and perceptual similarity of workplace victimizations: A social network analysis of stratification. Human Relations, 57, 795–822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landy, D., & Sigall, H. (1974). Beauty is talent: Task evaluation as a function of the performer’s physical attractiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29(3), 299–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepak, D. P., & Snell, S. A. (1999). The human resource architecture: Toward a theory of human capital allocation and development. Academy of Management Review, 24(1), 31–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorsch, J. W., & Tierney, T. J. (2002). Aligning the stars: How to succeed when professionals drive results. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabey, C., & Finch-Lees, T. (2010). Management and leadership development. In A. Wilkinson, N. Bacon, T. Redman, & S. Snell (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of human resource management (pp. 173–190). London: SAGE.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Manpower Group. (2015). 2015 talent shortage survey. Available at https://www.manpowergroup.com/wps/wcm/connect/db23c560-08b6-485f-9bf6-f5f38a43c76a/2015_Talent_Shortage_Survey_US-lo_res.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Accessed 11 May 2018.

  • McClelland, D. L., Baldwin, A. L., Bronfenbrenner, U., & Strodtbeck, F. L. (1958). Talent and society: New perspectives in the identification of talent. Princeton, NJ: van Nostrand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaels, E., Handfield-Jones, H., & Axelrod, B. (2001). The war for talent. Boston: Harvard Business Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, C. W. (1956). The power elite. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press Reprinted in 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miner, J. B. (1969). Personnel and industrial relations: A managerial approach. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miner, J. B. (1974). The human constraint: The coming shortage of managerial talent. Washington, DC: The Bureau of National Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nippa, M. (2011). On the need to extend tournament theory. In J. L. Pearce (Ed.), Status in management and organizations (pp. 118–152). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuesch, S. (2008). The economics of superstars and celebrities. Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Mahoney, J. (2007). The diffusion of management innovations: The possibilities and limitations of memetics. Journal of Management Studies, 44, 1324–1348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, A. (1967). The coming scramble for executive talent. The McKinsey Quarterly, 4(1), 2–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paull, J. (2009). Meme maps: A tool for configuring memes in time and space. European Journal of Scientific Research, 31(1), 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S. (1981). The economics of superstars. American Economic Review, 71, 845–858.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarborough, H., Robertson, M., & Swan, J. (2015). Diffusion in the face of failure: The evolution of a management innovation. British Journal of Management, 26, 365–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schweyer, A. (2004). Talent management systems: Best practices in technology solutions for recruitment, retention and workforce planning. Toronto, Canada: J. Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, J. P., & Ghiselli, E. E. (1971). Managerial talent, pay and age. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 1(2), 129–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, M. J. (1983). Achievement, power and managerial motivation: Selecting managerial talent with the job choice exercise. Personnel Psychology, 36(4), 775–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silzer, R. (2010). Critical research issues in talent management. In R. Silzer & B. Dowell (Eds.), Strategy driven talent management (pp. 767–780). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, R. J., & Davidson, J. E. (2005). Conceptions of giftedness (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Swailes, S. (2013). Troubling some assumptions: A response to “The role of perceived organizational justice in shaping the outcomes of talent management: A research agenda”. Human Resource Management Review, 23, 354–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swailes, S. (2016). The cultural evolution of talent management: A memetic analysis. Human Resource Development Review, 15(3), 340–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swailes, S., & Blackburn, M. (2016). Employee reactions to talent pool membership. Employee Relations, 38(1), 112–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twedt, D. W. (1967). Is the talent pool for marketing managers drying up? Journal of Marketing, 31(3), 65–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Brink, M., Fruytier, B., & Thunnissen, M. (2013). Talent management in academic: Performance systems and HRM policies. Human Resource Management Journal, 23, 180–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Krieken, R. (2012). Celebrity society. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Vetter, E. (1967). Manpower planning for high talent personnel. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Bureau of Industrial Relations, University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddock, S. (2015). Reflections: Intellectual shamans, sensemaking, and memes in large system change. Journal of Change Management, 15(4), 259–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Washington, M., & Zajac, E. J. (2005). Status evolution and competition: Theory and evidence. Academy of Management Journal, 48, 282–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, S., & De Menezes, L. M. (2011). High involvement management, high performance work systems and well-being. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(7), 1586–1610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

    Stephen Swailes

Authors
  1. Stephen Swailes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen Swailes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Talent Lab, Zealand Institute of Business and Technology, Slagelse, Denmark

    Billy Adamsen

  2. Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

    Stephen Swailes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Swailes, S. (2019). Talent Management: Gestation, Birth, and Innovation Diffusion. In: Adamsen, B., Swailes, S. (eds) Managing Talent. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95201-7_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation