The information and communication technology (ICT) services business is primarily driven by the quantity and quality of software talent, available locally and globally. Accordingly, global talent management (GTM) strategy is fundamental to the internationalization strategy of Indian ICT services multinationals, particularly in China. Through in-depth interviews of senior managers at the headquarters and Chinese subsidiaries of four well-known Indian ICT services multinationals, this research study critically examines the conceptualization and implementation of their GTM strategy by focusing on the quality of software talent pool in China, the strength of case study firms’ employer branding in the Chinese ICT services sector, control and coordination issues in rolling out global HR policies to Chinese subsidiaries, and the challenges of workforce localization. In the process, it contributes to our understanding of the strategic orientations and operational challenges of emerging market multinationals in other emerging economies, in the context of global mobility and the management of talent.

Mohan Thite is an associate professor at Griffith University, Australia. His career as a HR professional spans over thirty years, both in industry and academia. His research and publications cover a broad range of management areas, including strategic HRM and knowledge management, e-HRM/HRIS, international HRM, multinationals from emerging economies, and global mobility of talent via offshoring and skilled migration.