Abstract
The loss of high-potential employees was a concern to leaders at a South African
development finance company. The research question that guided the study was: How can
high-potential employees be retained in the company?
Research purpose: The objective of the study was to identify factors that positively impact the
retention of high-potential employees in a development finance company.
Motivation for the study: The organisation that comprised the unit of study had prioritised
employee development to retain high-potential employees, thereby aiming to build a strong
talent pipeline and a sustainable knowledge base. A prevalent concern was that there were no
formal retention programmes for high-potential employees. Accordingly, organisational
leaders could benefit from understanding those retention factors that may serve to retain such
employees.