This article explores Latin American Chief Executive Officers' (CEOs') perceptions about the influence of career self-management practices and chance events on their career pathways. Through an edited topical life story approach, we investigate the relationship between those variables throughout CEO's career trajectories in the Latin American context. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 CEOs working for multinational companies were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed with the aid of QSR NVivo 7 software. The study showed that even in volatile macroeconomic environments, typical of Latin American countries, CEOs do plan their careers. Career planning constitutes the backbone of the career management process. To deal with low predictability chance events, CEOs relied on active development network as the main career self-management practice. However, choice of mobility was the key career self-management behavior when responding to high predictability chance events. These central strategies were frequently combined with other career self-management practices, taking into consideration the type of chance event being responded to. According to this study, if individuals want to develop their careers in unstable environments, they will need to be proficient in career self-management practices, with particular emphasis on network development and choice of job mobility, as well as in happenstance skills.

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Purpose Talent identification is a critical process of any Global Talent Management system, and little is known about it in Latin American multinationals (multilatinas). This study aims to understand, through the perceptions of Corporate Global Talent Managers, the talent identification strategy in place, the factors involved and the sources of the tools for its implementation. Design/methodology/approach The sample is made up of 17 multilatinas (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia). Semi- structured interviews were conducted with Corporate Global Talent Managers. Findings Results reveal that the standardisation strategy constitutes the main trend. This choice is explained by numerous factors such as the new corporate structures, the entry mode via mergers and acquisitions, the national/regional culture, geographical closeness and shared cultural affinity, organizational culture, host country management practices and level of integration between headquarters and subsidiaries. Most of the multilatinas do not rely on “best practices”; they prefer home-made tools instead. Several factors were identified. Conclusions and further research are presented. Originality/value This paper attempts to fill a perceived gap in the literature investigating, empirically, the talent identification strategy in multilatinas.

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to talent management literature by examining empirically the relationship between talent identification and development tools. Design/methodology/approach – The study sample consisted of 112 Argentina-based companies. All participants completed an online survey containing a list of identification and development practices. Responses were analyzed with SPSS 19. Findings – Results show that companies running more talent identification processes (performance management and potential identification) make use of a greater number of development tools. Significant differences were observed in the use of all development tools analyzed, with the exception of formal education and job rotation. Results indicate that the presence of a Development Department encourages the implementation of identification and development tools. Practical implications – The study suggests that the better the quality of the information involved during the identification stage, the higher the contribution to development investment decisions. Companies should do well to rely on higher-quality diagnostic information to facilitate a better selection of development tools to fulfill specific objectives. The existence of a Development Department favors the implementation of a greater number of identification and development tools. Originality/value – This paper adds to fill a perceived gap in the literature investigating, empirically, the relationship between talent identification processes and development tools.

PurposeThis empirical study aims to analyse the talent spotters' perception of their tendency to be homophilic in the talent identification process and their stance on it. Besides, this article examines the type of homophily and the homophily attributes involved.Design/methodology/approachBased on a qualitative design, 37 middle and senior line managers, working for two Argentine conglomerates in six Latin American countries, participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews.FindingsHomophily was perceived by most of talent spotters, who judged it as natural, while it was not perceived by a small group of the interviewees. In addition, among those who recognized its presence, another group advocated the homophilic advantages, while a final one admitted the presence of homophily and its negative implications. In addition, a variety of homophily attributes were identified; most of them within the value category. We posit that if homophily attributes are, at the same time, components of high potential models, homophily will constitute a functional bias to the talent identification process.Originality/valueThis is the first study that explores the talent spotters' perception of their homophily bias as well as the diversity of homophily attributes present in the talent identification process. This research highlights the relevance of the homophily attributes' analysis, taking into account its alignment to the potential model in order to improve the talent identification process.