Talent Management in Organizations: A Systematic Literature Review of Two Decades of Research (2010-2023)

Abstract

This systematic literature review examines talent management (TM) practices and their organizational implementation across various industries over a 13-year period (2010-2023). Through a comprehensive analysis of 50 peer-reviewed articles sourced from academic databases, this study identifies key themes, theoretical foundations, and geographic patterns in TM research. The findings reveal that 78% of studies focus on employee engagement, while recruitment strategies and retention practices remain underexplored. Social Exchange Theory dominates the theoretical landscape (50% of studies), followed by Conservation of Resources Theory (16%). Geographically, research is concentrated in India (28%), UK (20%), and USA (16%), with significant gaps in other regions. The study contributes a comprehensive synthesis of TM literature, identifies critical research gaps, and proposes a conceptual framework for future investigations. Key recommendations include industry-specific TM research, cross-cultural comparative studies, and longitudinal investigations of TM effectiveness. This review serves as a foundational resource for scholars and practitioners seeking to understand the evolution and current state of talent management research.