Decoding the war for talent: a hybrid systematic review and research synthesis

Purpose This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of talent management (TM) research over the past two decades. The study seeks to offer insights into how effective TM fosters development, retention, and alignment of talent, contributing to continuous learning organizations (LO) for sustainable competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach A hybrid systematic review approach is adopted by analyzing a sample of 996 studies extracted from the Scopus database. The research uses multiple analytical techniques for a robust synthesis of the literature review. Findings This review systematically synthesizes extant research through publication trend analysis, yielding insights into influential works and intellectual collaboration analysis. Content analysis of the literature underlines the thematic focus and conceptual orientation of the studies. It further identifies psychological contract and social exchange theories as the dominant theoretical foundations. The review also organizes TM research into thematic clusters covering its conceptualization, challenges and opportunities, as well as its relevance for LOs. Practical implications The findings underline the practical relevance of emerging aspects such as generational workforce, organizational learning, competency building, and employer branding for TM amid global demographic shifts. Originality/value This study offers an integrative perspective on TM research by systematically consolidating two decades of TM literature using advanced analytical and visualization techniques through a hybrid systematic literature review. The thematic classification of recent TM articles makes it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking insights into contemporary TM in LOs.