Ilaria Spiteri Axiak, Peter A. Packer and Stephanie Ghio
The paper is part of a wider four year doctoral study examining talent management in small and micro businesses in small island states. It focuses specifically on soft skills…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper is part of a wider four year doctoral study examining talent management in small and micro businesses in small island states. It focuses specifically on soft skills training and how it is used as an employee retention tool, analyzing the attitudes of owner-managers, HR consultants and the effect on their businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper’s methodology is a qualitative one, gathering data from fourteen semi-structured interviews, with constant comparative analysis to determine findings. MAXQDA software is utilized throughout the process.
Findings
Findings emerging from the data indicate that the soft skills trainability of employees is questioned by owner-managers and often overlooked as a talent management tool. This at a time when the competitive importance of outstanding customer relations makes such skills increasingly important, especially since the talent pool in small island states is relatively small.
Originality/value
Findings shed light on small and micro businesses in a small island state and may also reflect regional economies of larger countries that similarly rely on small and micro businesses.
Details
Keywords
Ilaria Spiteri Axiak, Peter Alfred Packer and Stephanie Ghio
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the challenges relating to the integration of soft skill development with recruitment and retention strategies in small and micro…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the challenges relating to the integration of soft skill development with recruitment and retention strategies in small and micro businesses of a small island state. Recruitment and retention play an important role in the development of such skills, which make an impact on the effectiveness of employees in today’s workforce and the adaptability of organizations in a competitive market.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses qualitative methodology, collecting data from 14 semi-structured interviews, and uses constant comparative analysis to derive findings. The process is facilitated by MAXQDA software.
Findings
Findings indicate that organizations are faced with challenges in recruiting candidates with both technical and soft skills. Once the right candidate is recruited, efforts are made to retain staff by enhancing soft skills and their development despite challenges encountered in the process by owner-managers and human resource consultants.
Originality/value
The paper’s originality lies in the intensive investigation of challenges relating to recruitment and retention of employees and of the development strategies used as part of the employee lifecycle. Further, this paper studies the small and micro businesses of a small island state, which are generally overlooked in the literature.