Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Integrated Talent Management System for Maintaining an Up-to-Date Technical Workforce

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Emerging Dimensions of Technology Management

Abstract

Maintaining the intellectual capital of organizations is addressed by examining the problem of knowledge and skill obsolescence among technical professionals. An open systems model applied to obsolescence is presented that identifies internal system components and their interactions among each other as well as with the external environment. The components of the obsolescence model are each addressed through a proposed integrated talent management system. Such a system utilizes appropriate talent management interventions and practices intended to develop and maintain an up-to-date technical workforce, as part of the overall organizational strategy.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
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

References

  • Aguinis H (2009) Performance management, 2nd edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen TJ (1977) Managing the flow of technology. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen TJ (1997) Managing technical communications and technology transfer: distinguishing ­science from technology. In: Katz R (ed) The human side of managing technological innovation. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 307–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Arazy O, Gellatly I, Jang S, Patterson R (2009) Wiki deployment in corporate settings. IEEE Technol Soc 28(2):57–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brousseau KR, Prince JB (1981) Job-person dynamics: an extension of longitudinal research. J Appl Psychol 66:59–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan SP, Chauhan D (2008) Human obsolescence: a wake-up call to avert a crisis. Glob Bus Rev 9(1):85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choo CW (2001) Environmental scanning as information seeking and organizational learning. Inform Res 7(1):1–21. http://InformationR.net/ir/7-1/paper112.html

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark KB, Wheelwright SC (1992) Organizing and leading “Heavyweight” development teams. Calif Manage Rev 34(3):9–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denison DR (1996) What is the difference between organizational culture and organizational climate? A native’s point of view on a decade of paradigm wars. Acad Manage Rev 21(3):619–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Drucker PF (1969) The age of discontinunity. Harper & Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubin SS (1990) Maintaining competence through updating. In: Willis SL, Dubin SS (eds) Maintaining professional competence. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, pp 9–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubin SS, Cohen DM (1970) Motivation to update from a systems approach. Eng Edu 60(5):366–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Engineering Manpower Commission (1986) Toward the more effective utilization of American engineers. American Association of Engineering Societies, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr JL, Middlebrooks CL (1990) Enhancing motivation to participate in professional development. In: Willis SL, Dubin SS (eds) Maintaining professional competence. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, pp 195–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr JL, Dubin SS, Enscore EE, Kozlowski SWJ, Cleveland JN (1983) Relationships among individual motivation, work environment, and updating in engineers. Psychol Doc 13(16) (Ms. No. 2563)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fegley S (2006) Talent management: survey report. SHRM Research Department, Alexandria

    Google Scholar 

  • Fossum JA, Arvey RD, Paradise CA, Robbins NE (1996) Modeling the skills obsolescence process: a psychological/economic integration. Acad Manage Rev 11(2):362–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallaher J, Wentling TL (2004) The adoption of e-learning across professional groups. Perform Improv Quart 17(3):66–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DT, Las Heras M (2010) Reintegrating job design and career theory: creating not just good jobs but smart jobs. J Organ Behav 31:448–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horgan NJ, Floyd RP (1971) An MBO approach to prevent technical obsolescence. Pers J 50(9):686–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph D, Kuan Koh CS (2011) Organization support as a moderator in coping with the threat of professional obsolescence. In: AMCIS 2011 proceedings – all submissions. Paper 120

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph D, Kuan Koh CS, Hao Foo AC (2010) Sustainable IT-specific human capital: coping with the threat of professional obsolescence. In: ICIS 2010 proceedings. Paper 46

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz D, Kahn R (1978) The social psychology of organizations. NY: Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1974a) Obsolescence and professional career development. AMACOM, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1974b) Relationship of early work challenge to job performance, professional contributions and competency of engineers. J Appl Psychol 59(4):377–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (ed) (1975) Career management: a guide to combating obsolescence. IEEE Press/Wiley-Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1978) Technical obsolescence: an empirical analysis of its causes and how engineers cope with it. In: Proceedings 86th annual conference of the American Society for Engineering Education. ASEE, Washington, DC, pp 194–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1979) Technical obsolescence: work and organizations are the key. Eng Edu 68:826–830

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1982a) Continuing professional development at mid-career. In: Proceedings 1982 college industry education conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, ASEE, Washington, DC, pp 88–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1982b) Professionals in search of work: coping with the stress of job loss and underemployment. Wiley-Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1984) Information acquisition in engineering problem solving: a systems model approach. In: Proceedings international congress on technology & technology exchange. International Technology Institute, Pittsburgh, pp 423–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1986) A review of previous studies relating to engineering utilization. In: Engineering manpower commission, toward the more effective utilization of American engineers. American Association of Engineering Societies, Washington, DC, pp 89–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1989) Obsolescence of technical professionals: a measure and a model. Int J Appl Psychol 38:73–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1990) Management techniques for maintaining a competent professional work force. In: Willis SL, Dubin SS (eds) Maintaining professional competence. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, pp 249–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1994) Obsolescence and retraining of technical professionals: a research perspective. J Contin High Edu 42(2):2–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (1995) Employees, Careers, and Job Creation: Developing Growth-Oriented Strategies and Programs, edited by M. London. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. pp 105–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman HG (2006) Obsolescence of knowledge and skills. In: Greenhaus JH, Callanan GA (eds) Encyclopedia of career development. Sage, London, pp 539–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein DA (ed) (1998) The strategic management of intellectual capital. Butterworth-Heinemann, Woburn

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski SWJ, Farr JL (1988) An integrative model of updating and performance. Hum Perform 1(1):5–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski SWJ, Hults BM (1987) An exploration of climates for technical updating and performance. Pers Psychol 40:539–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leavitt HJ, Lipman-Blumen J (1995) Hot groups. Harv Bus Rev 73:109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy M (2011) Knowledge retention: minimizing organizational business loss. J Knowl Manag 15(4):582–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mali P (1975) Measurement of obsolescence in engineering practitioners. In: Kaufman HG (ed) Career management: guide to combating obsolescence. IEEE Press/Wiley-Interscience, New York, pp 25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Martins EC, Meyer HWJ (2012) Organizational and behavioral factors that influence knowledge retention. J Knowl Manag 16(1):77–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McQuade E, Sjoer E, Fabian P, Nascimento JC, Schroeder S (2007) Will you miss me when I’m gone? A study of the potential loss of company knowledge and expertise as employees retire. J Eur Ind Train 31(9):758–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (1985) Engineering education and practice in the United States: continuing education of engineers. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton S, Schambach T, Blanton JE (2002) Nature of work effects on motivation of information technology professionals. In: AMCIS 2002 proceedings. Paper 293

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonaka I, Takeuchi H (1995) The knowledge creating company: how Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwachukwu JC (1989) Job obsolescence and its contributing factors among production managers. Eng Manag Int 5:299–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldman GR, Hackman JR (2010) Not what it was and not what it will be: the future of job design research. J Organ Behav 31:463–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pazy A (1996) Concept and career-stage differentiation in obsolescence research. J Organ Behav 17(1):59–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinchot G III (1987) Innovation through intrapreneuring. Res Technol Manag 30(2):14–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Polanyi M (1966) The tacit dimension. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Polanyi M (1976) Tacit knowledge. In: Marx M, Goodson F (eds) Theories in contemporary psychology, 2nd edn. Macmillan, New York, pp 330–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Rong G, Grover V (2009) Keeping up-to-date with information technology: testing a model of technological knowledge renewal effectiveness for IT professionals. Inf Manage 46:376–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen B, Jerdee TH (1985) A model program for combating employee obsolescence. Pers Adm 30(3):86–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Silzer R, Dowell BE (eds) (2010) Strategy-driven talent management: a leadership imperative. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner DD, Farr JL (1986) Career goals, organizational reward systems and technical updating in engineers. J Occup Psychol 59(1):13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trimmer KJ, Blanton JE, Schambach T (1998) An evaluation of factors affecting professional obsolescence of information technology professionals. ACM SIGCPR Comput Pers 19(3):4–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waight C, Stewart B (2009) Exploring corporate e-learning research: what are the opportunities? Impact: J Appl Res Workplace E-learn 1(1):68–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingreen SC, Blanton JE (2007) A social cognitive interpretation of person-organization fitting, the maintenance and development of professional technical competency. Hum Resour Manage 46(4):631–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelikoff SB (1969) On the obsolescence and retraining of engineering personnel. Train Dev J 5:3–15

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organizational Behavior Program, Department of Technology Management, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA

    Harold G. Kaufman

Authors
  1. Harold G. Kaufman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harold G. Kaufman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    K.B. Akhilesh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kaufman, H.G. (2013). An Integrated Talent Management System for Maintaining an Up-to-Date Technical Workforce. In: Akhilesh, K. (eds) Emerging Dimensions of Technology Management. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0792-4_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation