Human resource management practice I also available by michael armstrong

1 

What is talent?

2 

What does it mean when reference is made 

to ‘the war for talent’?

3 

Who is covered by talent management 

programmes?

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Chapter 

20

  Talent Management

265

Talent defined

Talent was defined by Michaels et al (2001, xii) as 

‘the sum of a person’s abilities... his or her intrinsic 

gifts,  skills,  knowledge,  experience,  intelligence, 

judgement,  attitude,  character  and  drive.  It  also  

includes his or her ability to learn and grow.’

Talent is what people must have in order to per-

form well in their roles. They make a difference to 

organizational performance through their immedi-

ate efforts and they have the potential to make an 

important  contribution  in  the  future. Talent  man-

agement aims to identify, obtain, keep and develop 

those talented people.