Global talent management : the law of the few

Abstract

Despite more than a decade of hype around the concept of talent management, we still have relatively limited knowledge regarding its application in practice, particularly in the international context. Developing on Malcolm Gladwell's influential book The Tipping Point, and in particular his concept of the 'law of the few', we argue that it is a few key individuals positioned in pivotal roles which make the critical difference in terms of differentiated organizational performance. Drawing insights from the social capital, global leadership and global mindset literatures, this paper will be useful to both academics and practitioners in helping to conceptualize the important issues around talent management in an organizational context. (original abstract)