PICKING THE FLOWERS: ACQUISTION STRATEGY AS A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. 'Talent acquisition' forms a part of a much broader strategic approach in the corporate quest to gain and sustain a competitive advantage in today's marketplace. Other aspects include talent development, retention and transition, these are primarily inward facing, whilst the former is outward looking. Encouraging your own 'star' players to identify other outside top performers is an extremely powerful tool that is being used more and more. Corporations are offering a wide range of rewards in order to get these names and then act on them.