Four questions every leader needs to ask about talent management

Abstract

Purpose

The authors aim to examine the use of talent intelligence – the understanding that businesses have of the skills, expertise and qualities of their people – within talent management strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors combine their field work and research expertise to understand the use of talent intelligence and its effectiveness, and how this can be improved upon.

Findings

Beneath the succession plans and talent pools, talent management is built upon the foundation of talent intelligence. It is the basis of every people decision that organizations make. Yet there is evidence that this basic foundation of talent management is broken.

Originality/value

The authors look at why talent intelligence is not being used to its potential, and explore what businesses can do to rectify the matter. Four practical steps are shared to help HR professionals assess the quality of their organization's talent intelligence.

Citation

Kinley, N. and Ben-Hur, S. (2014), "Four questions every leader needs to ask about talent management", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 63-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-09-2013-0092