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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enhance the readers’ understanding of the domain of talent management and employee engagement, and how the former culminates in the latter, specifically as a tool for retention of employees. The paper also attempts to probe and aid readers in understanding of the domain of talent management and employee engagement, specifically as a tool for retention of employees. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on secondary research in the areas of talent management practices, employee engagement and talent retention. The authors have reviewed the existing body of work on these topics in order to arrive at an analysis of the practice of talent management and employee engagement and to successively measure its impact on the retention of employees. In order to aid the endeavor to bring some clarity to and explore the trends in talent management, the authors have based this paper on a systematic review of the existing literature which seeks to examine the modern thought process and evidence. Current examples are drawn from many leading companies and their practices are emphasized for better understanding. Various drivers responsible for engaging and retaining talent are studied by reviewing the existing literature. After analyzing the existing literature, the authors have arrived at talent retention and engagement practices that may aid and assist industry practitioners and policy makers in designing and implementing successful talent management initiatives. The authors have proposed a model for arriving at improved retention from talent management practices. Findings One of the most effective tools in ensuring that employees stay engaged and committed to their work is talent management. This sense of engagement or commitment toward their work ensures in turn that these employees stay with the organization in the long run. As the authors have begun analyzing the costs associated with recruitment, selection and the opportunity cost related to attrition, organizations have been concentrating their talent management efforts in the direction of retention. The paper concludes that a synchronization of talent management practices and employee engagement initiatives leads to improved talent retention and proposes a model to this end. Research limitations/implications Owing to the fact that the paper is conceptual, the model and hypotheses the authors arrive at must be empirically tested by relevant stakeholders in the organization, specifically the stakeholders specializing in the area of talent management, in order to add further weight to the literature. Practical implications Derived from an extensive study of current and impending talent management strategies, the findings may aid organizations and policy makers to develop and refine talent management practices in order to engage human capital, with the ulterior aim of talent retention – a concern that plagues most contemporary organizations. Originality/value Preempting or preventing attrition is a priority in several organizations, and more often, in some industries as a whole. The authors examine how talent management practices can contribute to the efforts in preempting or preventing attrition in organizations. Adding to the existing literature on talent management, the paper explores the areas of talent management which directly affect employee engagement and in turn make a difference in talent retention. This link connecting talent management practices with retention deserves a greater amount of investigation, which the paper explores.

Purpose This paper aims to study the interlink between work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement. The notion of how far work-life balance (WLB) policies have a throwback on employee engagement has been presented with shreds of evidence of previous studies carried out in the timeline of 2005–2021 in India. The purpose is to bring forward comprehensive studies together, which are available on piecemeal form in the fragmentary form, to draw a firm conclusion about work-life integration policies and their parallelism with job engagement and organizational effectiveness. Furthermore, this study intends to develop a theoretical framework using Dubin’s methodology on organizational effectiveness in relation to work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on systematic literature review of papers reviewed from across databases of Scopus, Emerald, EBSCO and Google Scholar. The keywords used for the search were WLB, work-life integration, job satisfaction, job contentment and organizational effectiveness and also a combination of these words was used to pull down the relevant papers. A systematic literature review was undertaken on the topics of work-life integration, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness. These articles were then read and scanned with the overview on abstract and further these articles were selected on the basis of relevance to the current study. Those articles which showed interconnectedness between the identified variables of organizational effectiveness in relation to work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement as antecedents were reviewed and a theoretical framework model is put forth using first part of Dubin’s methodology (1978) for theory building. The posited Model named A4 on organizational effectiveness using deductive approach is built on constructs, interaction, logic and propositions (Whetten, 1989).The theory will be functional in nature. With the given wealth of evidence, the injecting effect of work-life integration on employee engagement and pouring impact on organizational effectiveness becomes more transparent and clear. The authors have proposed a model for better organizational effectiveness through work-life integration policies. Findings One of the essential ingredients for better employee engagement is work-life integration policies, and organizational effectiveness becomes the by-product of the same. Innovative and friendly WLB policies assist employees to be more productive, dedicated and committed, resulting in better employee engagement which in the long run benefits the company in terms of effectiveness. WLB policies help to flatter down the burgeoning impact of complex work life on employee productivity and engagement. This paper concludes on the healing effects of WLB policies on employee engagement and organizational effectiveness and also proposes a model at the end. The posited model presents the antecedents for achieving organizational effectiveness. Research limitations/implications Because the study is conceptual in nature with the proposed model, more empirical-based studies by experts with relevant stakeholders will add more rationalization to the current study. Originality/value Organizational effectiveness is the key to survival in today’s complex and competitive world. The authors investigated how organizational effectiveness can be achieved with WLB policies, which can have a linear impact on employee engagement, and ultimately organizations can bear the flowerings of positive output. This linkage and coupling between WLB policies, job contentment, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness deserve attention which the authors have attempted to explore. The outcome and results of the study will contribute to the existing literature in a more meaningful manner and will assist human resource development and policymakers to achieve organizational goals with driving employees. Managers will gain insight into the identified theoretical framework model for its implementation in organization. Future researchers with empirical studies can test the proposed theory to determine its success at organizational level.

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Purpose This research paper focuses on the arriving new generation, “Gen Z,” and how an organization can target this new talent through innovation in its employer branding. This paper aims to enhance the readers’ understanding of how generation Z is different from the previous generations and their unique preferences. This study also attempts to probe and help readers understand innovative practices in employer branding and what tools can be used under this umbrella to influence and attract the increasing workforce of generation Z to the labor market. Design/methodology/approach There were 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews taken from human resources (HR) heads of various organizations, a few mid-managers, consultants and HR experts based in India. Each interview was transcribed, and a technique of inductive content analysis was used. Broad themes and several new items emerged that looked at innovation in employer branding. Findings It was found through this study that Gen Z has high career aspirations, working styles, attributes, education preferences and has an innovative mindset. This demands a flexibility of being independent and confident. They prefer diversity not just through race and gender but also through identity and orientation. Most important, money is not the only priority for them when it comes to their career development. They also want themselves to be associates with a workplace exhibiting community support. They are driven by an innovative mindset where they resort to creative means to achieve their goals. Research limitations/implications The research paper is exploratory. The model and hypotheses the author arrives at must be verified empirically by collecting primary data through validated instruments by the relevant stakeholders in the organization, specifically the stakeholders specializing in the domain of talent acquisition and talent management, to add additional weight and meaning to the literature. Practical implications As the members of Gen Z are about to step into the labor market, the proposed finding in this research paper would help current industrial practitioners rethink how they will design their policies to entice and integrate Gen Z into the workplace. Originality/value Realizing that companies’ experience with millennials’ entry into the workforce might not have prepared them to win with Gen Z, the author has examined what makes Gen Z different from earlier cohorts on how do they approach the workplace. Understanding the unique behavioral differences, the author has proposed organizations’ practices to appeal to them to work with them. Adding to the existing literature on “Generation Z” and “Employer Branding,” the author has linked both in the paper with a qualitative study and proposed a model to build Generation Z’s employer brand.