Talent designation as a mixed blessing: Short- and long-term employee reactions to talent status
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
![Thumbnail](/bi-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3041458/Human%2bRes%2bMgmt%2bJournal%2b-%2b2022%2b-%2bTyskbo%2b-%2bTalent%2bdesignation%2bas%2ba%2bmixed%2bblessing%2b%2bShort%25E2%2580%2590%2band%2blong%25E2%2580%2590term%2bemployee%2breactions%2bto.pdf.jpg?sequence=6&isAllowed=y)
View/ Open
Date
2022Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
- Scientific articles [2189]
Abstract
Talent management (TM) continues to attract considerable attention from both practitioners and academics. Existing research investigating employee reactions to being awarded talent status has not elucidated the processual nature of such reactions. This study extends TM research by providing a nuanced understanding of how employees react to talent designation over time and why. Specifically, it distinguishes between short- and long-term reactions and uses the lenses of psychological contract (PC) theory and social identity theory (SIT) to unpack mechanisms underlying immediate positive, and delayed negative, employee reactions to talent designation. Results from qualitative analysis of interviews with talents in three organizations show how—as time elapsed and no identity-relevant events occurred—perceptions of “talent emptiness” and “indeterminacy” developed. The study unfolds the complex interaction between SIT and PC (including breach and violation) to explain talents’ evolving reactions over time. As such, it contributes to TM literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the processes underlying employee reactions in exchanges involving socioemotional resources.
Publisher
WileyJournal
Human Resource Management JournalRelated items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Talents Under Threat: The Anticipation of Being Ostracized by Non-Talents Drives Talent Turnover
van Zelderen, Anand; Dries, Nicky; Marescaux, Elise (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2023)Based on social identity theory, exclusive talent programs can be understood to divide employees into two groups—‘talents’ versus ‘non-talents’—creating a setting where ostracism may occur. Using 360°-video vignettes (Study ... -
What's Your Talent Philosophy? Talent as Construct Versus Talent as Phenomenon
Dries, Nicky (Chapter, 2022)In this chapter, I propose an integrative framework for theorizing and empiricizing about talent management, based on the notion of “talent philosophies.” I believe that current debates about whether talent management ... -
HR managers’ talent philosophies: Prevalence and relationships with perceived talent management practices
Meyers, Maria Christina; van Woerkom, Marianne; Paauwe, Jaap; Dries, Nicky (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020)HR managers have different beliefs about the nature, value, and instrumentality of talent—referred to as ‘talent philosophies’. In line with cognitive psychology, we reason that talent philosophies are similar to mental ...