Discussions on how companies manage their talent are still ongoing, addressing substantial contextual factors that influence the interpretation, implementation and effects of talent management (TM). This study aimed to investigate trends in definitions, theories and methodologies in previous research on TM in the context of small, medium and new enterprises, and to offer suggestions for future research.
A systematic literature review of 66 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted.
Researchers have used several terminologies for TM definitions and practices. Although they have similarities, their distinctions were highlighted by examining their interplay. A balanced mix of the reviewed studies employed exploratory and explanatory research designs. The deficient use of theories in the reviewed papers was also significantly noted.
The results show a need to better establish TM practices in smaller businesses. Small business leaders must be highly involved in tailoring TM practices to their companies and in exploring the effectiveness and outcomes of different TM strategies.
More articles in the TM field have considered the context of large and multinational companies than of smaller companies. Therefore, this study—acknowledging the importance of TM practices in small companies—provided an overview of TM discussions in the context of small, medium and new companies to inform further research.
