Learning and talent development strategy

Recent CIPD research has emphasised the importance of strategic human resource management aligning to the overall business strategy. See our factsheet on strategic HRM for more information on that topic.

Within the HRM strategy, that for learning and talent development (LTD) needs to articulate the capabilities required by the organisation to sustain competitive advantage and ensure a sustainable, successful organisation. The LTD strategy provides the means of developing these capabilities to underpin organisational effectiveness.

The starting point for an effective LTD strategy is to understand the industry, look at the business’ aims and background and the rationale that drives organisational strategy. The factors governing this are many, but some examples might be:

• the business’ unique offer and what gives it competitive advantage
• the changes predicted in the environment – the rate of growth or decline, the competition and the degree of technological change
• the need to change and adapt to economic circumstances
• the level of knowledge and professional capability of staff now and that needed in the future
• the importance of customer service – what sort of customers are served and the nature of their expectations
• the need to reflect the community served.

• Overall learning and talent development strategy
• Translating the overall strategy into action
• Setting the organisational learning and talent development strategy
• CIPD viewpoint
• Useful contacts
• References
• Further reading