ABSTRACT
172The two decades since the first edition of this book was written have witnessed surges, ebbs and flows in demand for key talent. The first edition in 1999 coincided with what McKinsey dubbed ‘The War for Talent’. Fears of shortages of the talent required to fuel the burgeoning knowledge and service economy led to a growing focus on how to source, recruit and retain high potential workers who could fuel business success. The second edition of this book in 2009 coincided with the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis, which brought the practices of many global firms into disrepute and led to large-scale lay-offs, whose repercussions are being felt to this day. The current edition (2021) written during the global pandemic raises questions about the future of work and the kinds of workforce required going forward.
