Title: Affective commitment of employees designated as talent: signalling perceived organisational support

Authors: Jolyn Gelens; Nicky Dries; Joeri Hofmans; Roland Pepermans

Addresses: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium; Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven, Belgium ' Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven, Belgium ' Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium ' Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Abstract: We examined how perceived organisational support affects the relationship between being designated as talent and affective commitment. Two studies were conducted in two different 'talent' populations. In study one, a questionnaire was distributed within one large company among employees, who were designated as high potential, and a control group, who was not (N = 203). In study two, the same questionnaire was distributed within a different company among employees, who were designated as management trainee, and a control group, who were not (N = 195). The results from both studies showed that perceptions of organisational support were significantly stronger for employees who were designated as talent. Moreover, perceived organisational support mediated the relationship between an employee's designation as talent and affective commitment in both studies. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: talent management; SHRM; high potentials; management trainees; affective commitment; perceived organisational support; signalling theory; employee commitment; human resource management; HRM.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2015.066669

European Journal of International Management, 2015 Vol.9 No.1, pp.9 - 27

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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