Demystifying Talent Management

"Demystifying Talent Management offers an entertaining tour through the worlds of science, sports, and business to show us how we are maddeningly unclear about what we mean by ability or 'talent' in contemporary organizations as well as how little we actually know about how it relates to success." - Peter Cappelli, George W. Taylor Professor of Management and Director, Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 'This is an authoritative and timely analysis of the idea of 'talent'. Drawing on a range of managerial, sociological and philosophical concepts, the author builds a profound critique of the role of 'talent' in modern management thinking, and exposes its shortcomings, as well as providing a way forward for organisations to successfully acquire the key skills and abilities that they need. Dr. Adamsen's text should be on the desk of every chief executive and every HR manager.' - Paul Griseri, Managing Editor "Philosophy of Management' and Director of MBA Programmes, Middlesex University, UK "Adamsen's book is a very well written and important piece of work. Its theoretical discussion of the talent term is appreciated seen in the perspective of an unreflective use of this term in many contexts of talent management and development." -Inge Kryger Pedersen, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Demystifying Talent Management questions the explanation of talent, that anyone who has 'more' has a talent, and demonstrates how the term 'talent' has become an empty signifier. The book asks if talent exists at all, and reflects on what the consequences for talent management within business and sports would be if this were the case.Demystifying Talent Management questions the explanation of talent, that anyone who has 'more' has a talent, and demonstrates how the term 'talent' has become an empty signifier. The book asks if talent exists at all, and reflects on what the consequences for talent management within business and sports would be if this were the case.