Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Talent Management Challenges for Women in South Africa

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development Goals Series ((SDGS))

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 5 seeks to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. This is further supported by South Africa’s Employment Equity Act of 1998 and its promotion of affirmative action measures designed to achieve a diverse workforce. This suggests a key role for talent management (TM) approaches and, more importantly, the management of female talent in organisations located in South Africa. Through data collected from seven focus group interviews with women across 58 South African organisations, we find little evidence to suggest that organisations are seeking to manage their female talent and/or develop bespoke and exclusive TM practices. When TM initiatives do emerge, they terminate once gender parity is achieved. The result is a myopic and instrumental approach that only breeds further inequity and talented female turnover. Managers should seek to create a long-term focus on talent development and consider the strategic implications of their talent pipelines. Female workers are urged to seek mentors, challenge organisational practices that reinforce ‘traditional’ segmented approaches, develop their networks and encourage a talent mindset in the workplace.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baker D, Kelan E (2017) Integrating talent and diversity management. In: Collings D, Mellahi K, Cascio W (eds) The Oxford handbook of talent management. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 521–536

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkhuizen EN, Stanz KJ, Hajee-Osman M (2012) Gender perceptions of factors affecting the career advancement of females in a manufacturing company. In: Paper presented at the 10th European association of occupational health psychology conference, Zurich, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhmer N, Schinnenburg H (2016) How gender and career concepts impact global talent management. Empl Relat 38(1):73–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booysen LAE, Nkomo SM (2010) Gender role stereotypes and requisite management characteristics: the case of South Africa. Gend Manag Int J 25(4):285–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen P, Edwards P, Lingard H (2013) Workplace stress among construction professionals in South Africa: the role of harassment and discrimination. Eng Constr Arch Manag 20(6):620–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun S, Stegmann S, Hernandez Bar AS, Junker NM, van Dick R (2017) Think manager–think male, think follower–think female: gender bias in implicit followership theories. J Appl Soc Psychol 47(7):377–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke RJ (2017) Women in management worldwide: progressing slowly. In: Burke RJ, Richardsen AM (eds) Women in management worldwide: signs of progress, 3rd edn. Routledge, London, pp 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Business Women’s Association South Africa (BWASA) (2015) BWA South African women in leadership census 2017. https://bwasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2017-BWASA-CENSUS-report.pdf. Accessed 17 Oct 2018

  • Campbell K, Minguez-Vera A (2007) Gender diversity in the boardroom and firm financial performance. J Bus Ethics 83(3):435–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) (2017) Annual report 2016–2017. Department of Labour, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Derks B, Van Laar C, Ellemers N (2016) The queen bee phenomenon: why women leaders distance themselves from junior women. Leadersh Quart 27(3):456–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Garcia C, Gonzalez-Moreno A, Saez-Martinez FJ (2013) Gender diversity within R&D teams: its impact on radicalness of innovation. Innov Manag Policy Pract 15(2):149–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du Plessis Y, Barkhuizen N (2015) Exploring the career path barriers of women professional engineers in a South African context. S Afr J Labour Relat 39(1):38–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Duehr EE, Bono JE (2006) Men, women, and managers: are stereotypes finally changing? Pers Psychol 59(4):815–846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaister AJ, Karacay G, Demirbag M, Tatoglu E (2018) HRM and performance: the role of talent management as a transmission mechanism in an emerging market context. Hum Resour Manag J 28(1):148–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grobler P, Diedericks H (2009) Talent management: an empirical study of selected South African hotel groups. South Afr Bus Rev 13(3):1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz FM (2012) Evolving human resource management in Southern African multinational firms: towards an Afro-Asian nexus. Int J Hum Resour Manag 23:2938–2958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz FM (2013a) An analysis of skills development in a transitional economy: the case of the South African labour market. Int J Hum Resour Manag 24:2435–2451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz FM (2013b) Human resource management in Southern African multinational firms: considering an Afro-Asian nexus. In: Kahindi A, Kamoche K, Chizema A, Mellahi K (eds) Effective people management in Africa. Palgrave, Basingstoke, pp 126–151

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ibeh K, Debrah YA (2011) Female talent development and African business schools. J World Bus 46(1):42–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibeh K, Carter S, Poff D, Hamill J (2008) How focused are the world’s top-rated business schools on educating women for global management? J Bus Ethics 83(1):65–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Labour Organisation (2015) Women in business and management, gaining momentum (Global Report) http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—dgreports/—dcomm/—publ/documents/publication/wcms_316450.pdf. Accessed 4 Jan 2018

  • Kamoche K (2002) Introduction: human resource management in Africa. Int J Hum Resour Manag 13:993–997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamoche K, Chizema A, Mellahi K, Newenham-Kahindi A (2012) New directions in the management of human resources in Africa. Int J Hum Resour Manag 23:2825–2834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller J, Cappelli P (2014) A supply-chain approach to talent management. In: Sparrow P, Scullion H, Tarique I (eds) Strategic talent management: contemporary issues in international context. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 117–150

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig AM, Eagly AH, Mitchell AA, Ristikari T (2011) Are leader stereotypes masculine? a meta-analysis of three research paradigms. Psychol Bull 137(4):616–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linden G, Teece D (2014) Managing expert talent. In: Sparrow P, Scullion H, Tarique I (eds) Strategic talent management: contemporary issues in international context. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 87–116

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Noon M (2010) The shackled runner: time to rethink positive discrimination? Work Employ Soc 24(4):728–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nzukuma KCC, Bussin M (2011) Job-hopping amongst African black senior management in South Africa. S Afr J Hum Resour Manag 9(1):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Olckers C, du Plessis Y (2015) Psychological ownership as a requisite for talent retention: the voice of highly skilled employees. Eur J Int Manag 9(1):52–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell GN, Butterfield DA (2017) Linking leader anti-prototypes and prototypes to gender stereotypes. Gend Manag Int J 32(2):128–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Republic of South Africa (1998) Employment Equity Act, No. 55. Government Printer, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Republic of South Africa (2005) Code of good practice on the integration of employment equity into human resource policies and practices. Department of Labour, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro S, Bosch A, Becker J (2016) Retention of women accountants: the interaction of job demands and job resources. S Afr J Hum Resour Manag 14(1):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronnie L, Wakeling P (2015) Motivations and challenges: the South African masters in business administration experience. International Journal of Teaching and Education 3(1):45–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan MK, Haslam SA, Hersby MD, Bongiorno R (2011) Think crisis–think female: the glass cliff and contextual variation in the think manager–think male stereotype. J Appl Psychol 96(3):470–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabharwal M (2015) From glass ceiling to glass cliff: w omen in senior executive service. J Public Adm Res Theor 25(2):399–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schein VE (2007) Women in management: Reflections and projections. Women Manag Rev 22(1):6–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlechter A, Thompson NC, Bussin M (2015) Attractiveness of non-financial rewards for prospective knowledge workers: an experimental investigation. Empl Relat 37(3):274–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scullion H, Collings D (2011) Global talent management: introduction. In: Scullion H, Collings D (eds) Global talent management. Routledge, Abingdon, pp 19–32

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow P, Scullion H, Tarique I (2014) Introduction: challenges for the field of strategic talent management. In: Sparrow P, Scullion H, Tarique I (eds) Strategic talent management: contemporary issues in international context. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 3–35

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics South Africa (2017) Quarterly labour force survey: quarter 3. Statistics South Africa, Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarr-Whelan L (2009) Women lead the way: our guide to stepping up to leadership and changing the world. Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatli A, Vassilopoulou J, Özbilgin M (2013) An unrequited affinity between talent shortages and untapped female potential: the relevance of gender quotas for talent management in high growth potential economies of the Asia Pacific region. Int Bus Rev 22(3):539–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thunnissen M, Boselie P, Fruytier B (2013) Talent management and the relevance of context: towards a pluralistic approach. Hum Resour Manag Rev 23(4):326–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thusi S (2014) The advancement of women’s careers: is it a core strategic imperative in South African organisations? Unpublished MBA thesis, University of Pretoria

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (UN) (2015) Sustainable development goals. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/. Accessed 30 Jan 2018

  • Yee L (2014) Fostering women leaders: a fitness test for your top team. McKinsey and Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Linda Ronnie

  2. University of York, York, UK

    Alison J. Glaister

Authors
  1. Linda Ronnie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alison J. Glaister
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Ronnie .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Maano Ramutsindela

  2. School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    David Mickler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ronnie, L., Glaister, A.J. (2020). Talent Management Challenges for Women in South Africa. In: Ramutsindela, M., Mickler, D. (eds) Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14857-7_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation