Integrated Talent Management Scale: Construction and Initial Validation

Abstract

Talent management is of strategic importance for organizations across the globe. Organizations face formidable challenges in managing talent. Although talent management is gaining attention in emerging economies such as India, there is scanty research in integrated talent management practices in the context of developing markets. This study reviews the existing but scattered measurement scales of talent management processes. Using a systematic scale development approach, the authors employ exploratory as well as confirmatory factor analyses with a sample of 506 employees from 17 organizations across three industries to develop an Integrated Talent Management Scale (ITMS). Numerous statistical tests were performed to establish the reliability and validity of the scale. The analysis confirmed the theoretically identified dimensions of talent management, namely, identifying critical positions (ICP), competence training (CT), development (D), and reward management (RM). The study makes an important contribution by constructing and validating an ITMS that would enable researchers and practitioners to measure talent management and its outcomes in a comprehensive manner.