Talent management practices and the mechanisms behind the retention of employees: evidence from a case study in a multinational organisation in India

Multinational Organisations (MNO) represents one kind of workplace setting within the new Indian market. Information Technology (IT) professionals are the key resources to this type of organisations. Retaining talented employees within an organisation has become difficult in an Indian market scenario due to plethora of similar job opportunities available with the competitors in the IT market. An in-depth, interpretative case study of a MNO located in Chennai, India, was used in order to understand how the talent management practices help in the retention of the employees. Four kinds of mechanisms were identified behind the retention practices for employees through an interpretive analysis of the empirical data — organisational identification, organisational commitment, empowerment and employee engagement. The mechanisms and retention practices of the talent management within this organisation were seen to relate to how MNO retain their employees who are competitive IT professionals. Another case study of a MNO located in Bengaluru, India is still in progress. This paper has both theoretical and practical implications.