Prioritisation of TM functions and talent development practices in a specific service industry context

Given that talent management (TM) is still a developing concept, it is frequently stated that more conceptual and empirical studies are needed to complete its development and to be recognised as a discipline. This study is one of the first attempts to comprehensively define TM functions conceptually. Using the F-AHP method, the study also provides a more robust and valid view of the identified functions and prioritises them for one specific service industry: container shipping. The most prioritised and effective function is talent development. The findings provide a resource for organisations wanting to implement TM and a benchmark tool for organisations already implementing TM.