Rethinking Talent Decisions: A Tale of Complexity, Technology and Subjectivity

by Sharna Wiblen

Overview

Talent management is a linchpin of organisational triumph in our dynamic and swiftly evolving business world. As a key decision-maker, your capacity to craft astute talent decisions holds the potential to transcend your company from mere mediocrity to unparalleled excellence.

However, brace yourself for a revelation: Many of your long-held convictions about talent may be profoundly flawed. What if we shared a secret that could revolutionise your perspective? What if the gateway to unleashing your team’s boundless talents resides within your thoughts and judgments? Imagine the possibilities if you could harness exponential outcomes by elevating the calibre of your decision-making.

In ReThinking Talent Decisions, Sharna Wiblen, PhD, presents an uncomfortable truth: Talent decisions are always subjective. Drawing on examples from business, sports, movies and everyday interactions, Sharna emphasises the importance of understanding complexity and encourages deliberate, intentional, and informed decisions and conversations around talent.

This indispensable guide will give you insight into: 　　

• The Power of Personal Judgment: Learn how your own perspectives shape the today and the future of work.
• The Complexity of Talent Decisions: Recognise the critical need for key decision-makers to collectively define talent in your unique context.
• The Human Element: Understand how harnessing your mind can propel you, your team, and your organisation to new heights.
• Perceptions and Values: Learn how aligning perceptions and values can revolutionise your approach.
• A New Paradigm: Realise that talent management is a judgment-oriented endeavour.
• Navigating the Intersection of Talent and Technology: Delve into the world of technology systems and understand how they bolster and shape talent decisions in today’s digital age. 　　

ReThinking Talent Decisions is your secret weapon for achieving unparalleled success in the ever-competitive corporate arena. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a rising star, the wisdom within these pages will empower you to master the art and science of talent decisions.　

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110756357
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	03/18/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	285
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dr. Sharna Wiblen, PhD, is a multifaceted professional with extensive experience bridging academia and industry. As an author, award-winning executive educator, and research scientist, she specialises in talent management, digitalisation, organisational effectiveness, and the future of work.

Currently holding positions as an Affiliate Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Effective Organizations within USC's Marshall School of Business in the USA, an Assistant Professor/Senior Lecturer at Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong in Australia, and a Research Fellow with Leeds Business School in the UK, Sharna's influence extends across continents.

As an Enterprise Effectiveness Network (EEN) co-leader, Sharna facilitates collaborations, fosters knowledge exchange, and aids organisations in addressing talent, digitalisation and strategy execution challenges. Her work continues to shape conversations, influence practices, and inspire decision-makers to embrace deliberate, intentional, and informed decisions and actions in the context of evolving workplaces and technological advancements, all while recognising the enduring power of humans and human decision-making.

Sharna is also an accomplished author, publishing in highly ranked peer-reviewed journals and books. She also imparts her expertise in executive education, sharing her knowledge and passion for responsible talent management.

Editorial Reviews

"With the rapid expansion of HR Tech over the last half decade, Rethinking Talent Decisions　provides a thoughtful, human-focused approach to navigating vendor power . . . Highly recommended for Talent and HR professionals and people leaders." — Kirsten Edwards, Global Head of People Data and Analytics, Rio Tinto and co-author of Predictive HR Analytics: Mastering the HR Metric

"Prepare to shatter the mold of conventional talent thinking with Rethinking Talent Decisions. . . .This transformative book not only challenges the status quo but also empowers you with a fresh perspective, prompting insightful questions and arming you with essential tools to navigate the dynamic intersection of humans and technology." — Michael J. Arena, PhD, former Chief Talent Officer of General Motors and Amazon Web Service and author of Adaptive Space

"In Rethinking Talent Decisions, Sharna Wiblen captures the important and complex art of talent assessment, its important link to organisational strategy and its inherently subjective nature. . . . Rethinking Talent Decisions　is a must for Talent Management professionals interested in increasing their understanding of the complexity and importance of both good talent management practices and technology selection." — Patrick McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer Pepsi-Co, Pepsi-Co Foods North America

". . . a great blend of insight, ideas, frameworks and practical solutions to a challenge that a lot of organisations continue to struggle to satisfactorily address. This is a must-read book for practitioners wanting to re-imagine their organisation’s talent strategy and deal with this business-critical issue." — Dave Millner, The HR Curator, Consultant, and co-author of Introduction to People Analytics

"Rethinking Talent Decisions　is both thought-provoking – asking the reader to reflect on ideas and be willing to adjust and build thoughts to reach decisions — and practical in application . . . This book presents new ways of thinking about talent, talent systems and decision-making that leaders can simply and sustainably apply." — Susan Kelliher, Former Senior Vice President, People, The Chemours Company

"Sharna Wiblen integrates talent management with the process of innovation. . . . This book is a must read for leaders who aim to make their talent management systems sufficiently agile to meet the increasingly rapid pace of technological change." — Jennifer S. Mueller, PhD, Professor of Management, Knauss School of Business, University of San Diego and author of Creative Change

". . . a comprehensive monograph that provides a nuanced approach to talent management and responsible decision-making in the digital era. . . . This thought-provoking book significantly contributes to our understanding of decision-making and provides valuable guidance for leaders, consultants, and academics." — Max Blumberg, PhD, People Analytics Advisor and Founder of Blumberg Partnerships

"Sharna Wiblen's book offers a thorough and insightful guide for leaders navigating the convergence of talent, technology, and data-driven decision-making. — David Green, Managing Partner at Insight222, co-author of　Excellence in People Analytics, and host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast

"Sharna Wiblen challenges us to consider the use of technology in our talent decisions because it is ALL　about the people." — Rachelle Snook, Vice President Global Talent, WD-40 Company

". . . a wake-up call for decision-makers, urging them to recognise the transformational influence of specific thoughts on talent decisions and strategic outcomes.　 . . . This book provides a map for leaders to navigate the complex terrain of talent management, offering a novel perspective that allows decision-makers to balance operational requirements and strategic success." — John Boudreau, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, thought leader and co-author of Work Without Jobs, Investing in People and Reinventing Jobs

"Sharna Wiblen shows us the criticality of making the right decisions about individual, team and organizational talent. An essential framework for senior leaders everywhere." — Alec Levenson, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Centre for Effective Organizations, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California and author of Strategic Analytics

"Sharna Wiblen weaves a masterful tale that helps readers to think critically and deeply about how work, technology, and complexity affect talent management. Every step of the way, she helps them craft incisive questions that will yield responsible decisions about talent. That’s what makes this book so valuable." — Wayne Cascio, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado Denver and co-author of Investing in People

"Rethinking Talent Decisions　offers all professionals whose role incorporates talent management, important insights on how to better integrate and unpack existing approaches to talent decisions. It is a book that uniquely challenges the reader to think more deeply around one’s current approach to talent decision-making." — Anthony McDonnell, PhD, Professor of Human Resource Management, Cork UniversityBusiness School, UCC, Ireland

From the Publisher