The Global Talent Challenge of Self-initiated Expatriates

Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute to the global talent management (GTM) debate by developing discussions that highlight the challenges, strategies and opportunities in relation to self-initiated expatriates (SIEs). Given the acknowledged importance of SIEs in meeting global demands for talent, it is important to develop global talent management frameworks that take into consideration the distinctive features of SIEs. In this chapter, we propose adopting multilevel perspective to understand the interplay between macro-country, meso-organisational and micro-individual dimensions in the articulation of GTM systems for SIEs. This perspective acknowledges that SIEs are not a homogenous group so GTM policies and practices need to account for the diversity of this group. This would help to capitalise on the social and economic contribution of global talent as a strategic resource at the meso-organisational level and as part of the talent pool at macro-country level.