TALENT MANAGEMENT WITHIN SMEs: ATTRACTING, DEVELOPING, REWARDING, AND RETAINING WORKERS AS SOURCES OF ENHANCED SUSTAINABILITY

The aim purpose of this study is to explore talent management within SMEs in attracting, developing, rewarding, and retaining in enhancing sustainability. In so doing, we focused on the key talent management practices employed by SMEs to enhance and sustain talent management in talent acquisition, development, and retention. The researcher also explores how these practices are shaped by the South African context. In the approaches to this study, the researcher draws primarily upon semi-structured interviews with 15 SME owners/founders operating in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. An inductive thematic analysis identified patterns in the main theme that emerged from the interview data. The study found that talent management practice has a positive significant impact on employees' commitment and the sustainability of the businesses. It concluded that talent management is measured in terms of talent attraction, talent development, and talent retention, talent reward, and promotes employee commitment in sustaining SMEs in South Africa. In the context of reformed SMEs, the researcher reports on talent management practices in the South African context. The literature on talent management in SMEs by providing evidence of the conceptualization and management of global talent in the context of South Africa.