Talent Management for the Forthcoming ASEAN Economic Community The Case of Industrial Companies in Thailand.

The free flow of labor which will result from the creation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has led to the consideration of how to manage people in the ASEAN countries. This paper focuses on talent management in the industrial companies in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, Thailand. It is aimed at investigating talent management and preparations for the forthcoming AEC. It also examines whether this talent management and these preparations differ in accordance with the company's characteristics. Quantitative research methodology was employed in this study. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed and 98 were returned. The findings revealed that the companies in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong Province utilized talent management at a moderate level. Industrial type and company size did not show statistical significance regarding talent management. It was also found that there was no significant effect of company size on the talent management. Only one statistical implication was found-that company size was significant in terms of preparations for the AEC. Respondents from companies of different sizes exhibited different preparations for the AEC regarding their understanding the impact of the AEC and confidence in their talent management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]