On the Fast Track to Organization Leadership

In this paper we analyzed Fast Track programs within the context of the Status Attainment Model (Blau and Duncan, 1967), the Human Capital Model (Becker, 1975; Mincer, 1974), the Unitary Structure (Spilerrnan, 1986), and determinants of leadership succession. We argued that there are at least three main filters which act to screen prospective individuals from becoming candidates for the top management team: 1) The general homogeneity of individuals seeking a position within the TMT, 2) Organizational rules and socialization, 3) Individual selection practices. We offered a number of propositions that we hope will lead to a better understanding of the processes through which candidates for the TMT emerge and how these processes can have a bearing on the characteristics of these individuals and, in turn, the composition of the characteristics of future TMT