From talent management to talent optimization

The term ‘talent management’ has been around for quite some time, but definitions abound around the globe, applications are varied and a plethora of measures—mostly tactical—are currently being used. This article addresses how the concept of talent management is of both theoretical and practical value in any industry or geography. How can we know when talent investments have been optimized? What is the talent lifecycle and why is it important? Additionally, the article presents and illustrates the People Equity framework that serves as a global bridge between important individual and business outcomes such as turnover, financial performance, quality, productivity, customer retention, and organizational processes and policies that drive high or low talent optimization.