Contemporary Talent Management in the Context of Uncertainty

Abstract

Uncertainty has become ubiquitous in our work and business environment. The COVID-19 pandemic raised the uncertainty to unprecedented levels, upending our previously known ways of managing talent and throwing corporate decision makers for a loop, leading to losses of business and millions of jobs, and threatening the very survival of individuals and organizations (Barrero, Bloom & Davis, 2020; Schwartz, 2020). This panel symposium responds to calls for greater theorizing on workplace uncertainty in the context of contemporary talent management. Five prominent scholars whose expertise touches upon contemporary talent management issues across multiple levels of analysis will be a part of this conversation. Topics of discussion will include the recent changes in the institutional and technological space in China, talent management in the changing and dynamic gig economy, the post-pandemic talent management issues pertaining to inequalities and the racial awakening, and the work-related implications of early talent development. The goal of the discussion is to encourage thought and future research in this domain.