Retention factors influencing South African IT professionals in the financial services sector
Date
2013-10-04
Authors
Shepperson, Glenda Lyn
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Abstract
The current Information Technology (IT) skills shortage in South Africa is critical, resulting in a war for talent, which organisations cannot afford to lose if they are to remain competitive. In order to secure their scarce resources they need to focus on the retention of their IT professional workforce.
The primary aim and purpose of this research study was to identify the most important retention factors that IT professionals in the South African financial services sector perceived to influence their decision on whether to stay with an organisation or not.
Data was collected by means of an online questionnaire from 259 IT professionals in the South African financial services sector. The data was analysed in conjunction with data from other similar studies in order to draw appropriate comparisons.
This research has indicated that in the quest to retain their IT professionals, organisations needs to consider the tangible, as well as intangible aspects important to their employees. These include most importantly, the provision of work-life balance programmes and practices.
The statistical analysis conducted as part of this study in order to determine which variables influencing the IT professionalsā decisions to remain with an organisation could be grouped meaningfully into themes, resulted in the identification of the following six themes, listed in order of importance: Traditional employment provisions; Inspiring, supportive, learning culture; Constructive teamwork; Liberating, enabling and rewarding personal work experience; Freedom to determine personal and organisational destiny; and Adequate provision to enable optimal performance.
Description
MBA thesis
Keywords
Retention factors, Human resources, Information technology