Talent Management: The India Way

Abstract

Talent can be defined as performance minus effort such that a more talented person will perform better than an equally motivated but less talented peer because of their innate ability or potential. Talent management may be understood as all that practices that lead to attracting, developing and retaining people with the capabilities of meeting current and future organisational needs. Talent management practices in any nation or region would give best results when they are in consonance with the culture of that nation or region. Culture and environment fit matters even as extremely talented individual will not reach full potential in an environment that is a poor fit. One of the most comprehensive studies on how values in workplace are influenced by culture done by Hofstede, six dimensions of culture were identified. As per Hofstede, the interpretation of cultural dimensions for India was as follows: High Power Distance, High Long-Term Orientation, High individualism, High Masculinity, Low on Uncertainty Avoidance and Low on Indulgence. Sycophancy and exaggerated outward respect for superiors and seniors as characteristic part of Indian corporate life and in ‘cultural DNA’ of India were identified. India's tolerance of diversity has also been found to be one of the greatest potential gifts to the world culture. Despite the in-group out-group dichotomy existing there has been a high tolerance for diversity in India. Talent management in India is characterised by removing obstacles such as lack of resources through ‘jugaad’. Therefore, the challenge lies for HR professionals in understanding cultural DNA of India as well as working towards integrating the functional elements of different countries and regions present in India and adapting them to Indian conditions and managing and developing talent in the long run. Paper discusses how talent can be managed effectively, through a model proposed by authors, which explores Indian cultural context and fit of employees within the context for best results.