The high-potential fast-flying achiever: Themes from the English language literature 1976-1995

Examines the discourse on high-flyers in business (management) in academic and practitioner literature (journals and books), published in English in Anglo-Saxon countries in the past 20 years, with a stress on the last decade (1986-1995). Ideas, examples and experiences reported are (in descending order of emphasis) from the USA, the UK and Canada; with a token representation for other Anglo-Saxon countries. Following an outline of the key imagery employed, analyses the literature in terms of the meaning of the said phenomenon: high-flying (fast track, achieving, high potential) for the individuals and organizations concerned, as well as its wider societal ramifications. Discusses issues pertaining to human resource management, in particular women’s careers.