Business reliance on the freelancer economy continues to grow. Organizations in every industry and geography are increasingly indebted to external talent, whom we term agile talent, to augment their resources in strategic areas. The benefits are substantial: Agile talent provides organizations with greater flexibility, speed, and competitive insight. And as part of a contingent staffing strategy, emerging businesses and startups can afford access to outstanding technical experts that would otherwise be cost prohibitive on a full-time basis. (Though agile talent crosses skill sets and sectors, we find that it’s a staffing model that’s particularly popular in technical fields right now.)
Whose Job Is It to Manage Freelancers?
Supporting external talent is a full-time job.
March 14, 2016
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New!
HBR Learning
Attracting and Cultivating Talent Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Attracting and Cultivating Talent. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Discover how to attract, hire, develop, and keep talented people who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey.