Working Group on Economic Policy: WP15106
The United States military has a peculiar management dilemma: there is a strong consensus about the need – highlighted by numerous recent Secretaries of Defense – to reform personnel policies but uncertainty about how to proceed. In order to make private sector experiences and academic insights more relevant, this study presents a new, forty-element assessment of organizational leadership culture and talent management practices. Results from a survey of more than 566 respondents identify strengths and weaknesses between military and nonmilitary organizations. Although US armed forces are evaluated higher on a few elements of leadership culture, they have deep weaknesses in talent management. Regression analysis reveals which elements are significant factors for organizational performance.
