Talent management is the most important element of the development of an organization. In the knowledge economy of the twenty-first century, it is also the issue that has received the most attention in both the public and private sphere as organizations strive to develop the best possible human resources.

An Italian economist of the last century, Vilfredo Pareto, pointed out that 20% of the population controlled 80% of the wealth. Paredo's observation was later developed by Joseph M. Juran and others into the 80/20 rule widely-used in the world of management. According to this rule, the structure of any given organization will give rise to the phenomenon that 20% of managers-that is, 20% of those with talent-lead 80% of the staff. This 20% make up the key talent that will achieve the sustainable development of the organization, and it is this group that is addressed by the true core of talent management issues. There is a vast difference between the strategic implementation of management areas, such as leadership development, staff recruitment, training and development, and performance and efficiency evaluation, for this group of leaders and such implementation for other kinds of HRM and HRD.

ARTDO International realizes the distinctive character of talent management and the ever-increasing attention it has been garnering in the field of human resources. That is why the theme of this conference is Talent Management in an Era of Globalization. We are confident that related topics such as Competitive Advantage, Succession Planning, Human Asset Management, High-level Personnel Selection and Training Strategies, and the Pursuit of Excellent Organizational Performance will comprise a broad and diverse selection of specialized seminars. I believe that the wide-ranging and in-depth discussion at the conference between participants from both in and outside the Asia-Pacific area will have an enlightening and powerful impact on the thought of HRD specialists and staff.

I strongly recommend this conference on Asia-Pacific human resources development. In my capacity as a representative of the R.O.C. Government and as Honorary Chairman of ARTDO, I wholeheartedly welcome each of you to visit Taiwan to participate in the 38th ARTDO International Conference.

Sincerely yours,

Honorary Chair, ARTDO International      President, Examination Yuan of R.O.C