Abstract
Introduction: The survival and growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are of significance to the economy. Therefore, knowing the relationship among talent management, meaningful work and service performance are of importance to SMEs.
Research purpose: The key research objective was to investigate talent management as a predictor of meaningful work and service performance in SMEs.
Motivation of the study: There is limited research on talent management, meaningful work, and service performance of SMEs in the South African context.
Research design, approach and method: This study followed a quantitative research design. Data were collected from employees at South African SMEs (N = 374), using a talent management measure, the Work as Meaning Inventory and SERVQUAL.
Findings: The results show a significant positive relationship between talent management, meaningful work, and service performance in SMEs. It was found that there is a significant positive relationship between talent management and service performance, and a significant positive relationship between talent management and meaningful work in SMEs. There is also a significant positive relationship between meaningful work and service performance. However, meaningful work does not mediate the relationship between talent management and service performance in SMEs. Talent management and meaningful work are significant positive predictors of service performance in SMEs.
Managerial implications: SMEs are encouraged to enforce talent management practices and create meaningful work for employees in SMEs in order to have an impact on service performance.
Keywords:
SMEs, SMEs in South Africa, meaningful work, service performance, service quality, talent management