In an article written for Harvard Business Review and the HBR Blog Network, Michael Mankins, Alan Bird, and James Root acknowledge the assertion that talent is overrated. “But our estimates, based on evidence from a variety of industries, suggest that star employees outperform others by a country mile.” For example:

o The best developer at Apple is at least nine times as productive as the average software engineer at other technology companies.

o The best blackjack dealer at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas keeps his table playing at least five times as long as the average dealer on the Strip.

o The best sales associate at Nordstrom sells at least eight times as much as the average sales associate at other department stores.

o The best transplant surgeon at a top-notch medical clinic has a success rate at least six times that of the average transplant surgeon.

To read their HBR article, “Making Star Teams Out of Star Players,” please click here.

Michael Mankins leads Bain & Company’s Organization practice in the Americas and is a partner in San Francisco. He is a co-author of Decide and Deliver: Five Steps to Breakthrough Performance in Your Organization (Harvard Business Review Press, 2010). Alan Bird is a leader in Bain’s Organization practice and a partner in London and Johannesburg. James Root leads Bain’s Organization practice in Asia-Pacific and is a partner in Hong Kong.