Changing talent management practises and global talent management: a literature review and research agenda for the Mediterranean region

Changes in how people are managed have become central for many companies, including companies in the Mediterranean region, and the success of organisations is increasingly seen as at least partly dependent upon a group of 'super performers' or 'talents' is proving increasingly influential, especially with top managers. Narratives around talent management (TM) now often refer to 'fulfilling human potential' and 'transforming organisations' as well as 'fighting a war for talent'. However, to what extent is TM a fashion, or a radically new way of managing people that promises to enhance the competitiveness of Mediterranean organisations? This paper reviews the literature on HRM and TM, including that relating to the Mediterranean region, to develop an agenda for future research, based mainly on institutional theory that can assess the extent to which TM is a fashion or a substantial contribution to organisational effectiveness in this region.