The loss of human capital due to poor retention strategies : a case study of a government department in the South African context

Date
2012-12
Authors
Blom, Izak Jacobus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research reports on the phenomenon of preventable staff loss (human capital) in a South-African government department. The research covered an analysis of biographical, occupational types and duration of job tenure data of 500 former employees who resigned over a ten-year period. Of these employees, 72 participated in a quantitative survey designed to test opinions around aspects such as career management, retention efforts and the resignation decision. Another 9 participated in telephone interviews. The evolution of organizational theory over the last few centuries and the recent emergence of organizational systems theory are used as basis for, on the one hand, describing government departments in general as the type of organization under discussion and on the other to identify themes that point to possible avenues for diagnosis of the phenomenon. Recent trends and technological developments leading to increasing scarcity and fluidity of the labour market are highlighted against the growing importance of the value of human capital and institutional knowledge as key components of achieving organizational goals. The effects of South-African political developments after 1990 on talent management in general, and enterprise systems in particular, are covered. The optimal implementation of talent management (as a component of organization-wide knowledge management strategies) is proposed as a possible solution.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing doen verslag oor die verskynsel van voorkombare personeelverlies (Menslike kapitaal) in ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse staatsdepartement. Die navorsing sluit ‘n analise van biografiese, beroepstipe en lengte van diens van 500 voormalige werknemers wat oor ‘n tien jaar periode bedank het, in. Van hierdie werknemers het 72 deelgeneem aan ‘n kwantitatiewe vraelys wat ontwerp is om opinies rondom aspekte soos loopbaanbeplanning, pogings om personeel te behou, en die bedankingsbesluit te toets. ‘n Verdere nege het deelgeneem aan telefoniese onderhoude. Die evolusie van organisasieteorie oor die afgelope paar eeue en die onlange opkoms van organisatoriese sisteemteorie is as basis gebruik om eendersyds staatsdepartemente as organisasietipe in die algemeen te bespreek en andersyds sekere temas te identifiseer wat rigtinggewend kan wees in pogings tot diagnose en verdere ondersoek van die verskynsel. Onlangse neigings en tegnologiese ontwikkelinge wat lei tot toenemende vloeibaarheid en skaarsheid in die arbeidsmark word beklemtoon teen die groeiende belangrikheid van die waarde van menslike kapitaal en institutionele kennis as sleutelkonsepte in die bereiking van organisatoriese doelwitte. Die gevolge van Suid-Afrikaanse politieke ontwikkelinge na 1990 op die bestuur van talent oor die algemeen, asook die benutting van ondernemingstelsels (enterprise systems) in die besonder, word aangespreek. Die optimale implementering van talentbestuur as onderafdeling van organisasie-wye strategieë vir kennisbestuur word voorgehou as ‘n moontlike oplossing.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Human capital, Employee retention, Employee turnover, Organizational commitment, Talent management, Government employees -- Supply and demand, Theses -- Information science, Dissertations -- Information science
Citation