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Case Study

War for management talent in China

By William A. Fischer and Rebecca Chung

5 pages

December 2007

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Reference: IMD-3-1876

This opening note is part of the suite of teaching materials which employs China as an illustration of the managerial implications resulted from the so-called War for Talent, and is intended to generate insights into “how to best play the talent game” in China, or elsewhere. We aim to generate an interactive and rich class discussion of the issues raised among seasoned business practitioners, by adopting a variety of interesting teaching formats: an opening note, four cases, an “appraisal exercise” and a video. In particular, this note presents the major talent-related issues that both local and foreign business leaders in China are facing today. Being deliberately brief, the note is designed to provide quick familiarity with the “big-picture” issues relating to talent in China today.

Learning Objective

Among the critical issues in talent management to be addressed in this suite of teaching materials, the following are the most central for the learning of class participants: 1) Since sizing up potential candidates is the first and most fundamental step of talent management, what characteristics should a business leader look for to meet the competency requirements today and to prepare for the future? 2) What would be some creative and feasible practices to source, attract, develop and retain management talent?

Keywords

Human Resources, Leadership Succession, Talent Management

Settings

China
2007

Type

Published Sources

Available Languages

English

Related material

Teaching note, Video

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2007 EFMD AWARD WINNER (Emerging Chinese Global Competitors)

This case study is part of a series

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