Development and Challenges of Star Employee Research: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Since 2000, there has been increasing attention in both research and practice to exceptional individuals who can achieve much higher performance than the average person in organizations. The purpose of this study is to conduct an integrative literature review of star employee research and to identify the current research achievements and problems. In this study, we first critically examine several variations of the definition of “star” and determine the definition we adopt. In addition, we will discuss the novelties or advantages of research focusing on stars from the following three points: (1) focusing on the fact that the individual in question achieves significantly higher results than others, (2) focusing on high visibility, and (3) assuming that the shape of the distribution regarding the dispersion of abilities, characteristics, and achievements of individuals in the organization is a powerlaw distribution rather than a normal distribution. Then, using Coleman (1990)'s bathtub model, we classify existing star employee researchers that have been accumulated so far into five categories: impact of star on focal organization, impact on colleagues, mobility or portability of stars status, treatment of stars and fairness within organization, and star formation. Finally, after clarifying the achievements and challenges of existing researches, we clarify what developments this research topic will bring to organizational behavior research and human resource management theory in general.