Effectiveness of strategic talent management practices in professional services firms in Kenya

Abstract

In the modern era of resource constraints, organizations must efficiently manage their activities by avoiding employment of excess inputs in their operations. In addition, an increasingly competitive marketplace, maintaining a strategic advantage and a strong corporate culture requires top-notch talent, breakthrough ideas, and exceptional client service. Moreover Markets are increasingly recognizing human capital as a source of valuable resource for firms and shareholders as talent is rare, valuable, difficult and hard to substitute and organizations that better attract, select, motivate and retain this talent outperform those that do not. The general objective of this research study will be to determine the effectiveness of strategic talent management practices in professional services firms in Kenya. It will seek to show the importance and benefits to the firms of having strategic talent management practices in place. It will seek to understands the strategic talent management practices in the professional services firms and the benefits accruing to the firms.The specific objectives of the study will be to determine the factors that have led professi. This study will be descriptive in nature and a census will be used.The population of interest will be PricewaterouseCoopers Limited, Deloitte and Touche, KPMG and Ernst and Young professional services firms that are in Kenya. These are the largest accountancy and professional services firms in Kenya and handle the vast majority of audits and professional services for publicly traded companies as well as many private companies, creating an oligopoly over the market. The study will benefit organizations in the corporate sector to understand the strategic talent management practices employed by the professional service firms and hence look at adopting the same. It will benefit high potential employees and will add to the existing body of knowledge as regards strategic talent management practices and can form the basis for further research