From Informal Practice to Strategic Talent Management: A Qualitative Case Study of AWA Group
DOI:
10.47353/ecbis.v4i6.612Published:
2026-09-26Downloads
Abstract
Talent management in growing organizations often develops through informal managerial practices before becoming more strategically coordinated. This study examines how talent-management practices emerge and become strategically organized within AWA Group while balancing inclusion and differentiation, agility and governance, and current performance and future potential. An interpretive qualitative single-case study was conducted using purposive maximum-variation sampling involving 12 informants across five organizational stakeholder groups. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with an abductive approach, supported by cross-level triangulation and negative-case analysis. The findings identify five interrelated themes: talent is recognized as trusted readiness rather than a fixed label; an inclusive development floor coexists with selective strategic acceleration; informality functions as both an organizational capability and a governance risk; fairness depends on explainability and mobility rather than equal treatment alone; and organizational growth creates pressure for a hybrid and selectively formalized talent architecture. Based on these findings, the study develops the AWA Emergent Talent Management Model, which connects business growth triggers, talent recognition, developmental exposure, readiness evidence, and strategic deployment and succession. The study highlights selective formalization as a mechanism for strengthening transparency, accountability, and succession readiness while preserving contextual managerial flexibility.
Keywords:
Talent Management Strategic Talent Management Selective Formalization Talent Development Succession Planning Organizational GrowthReferences
Abid, K. (2024). Talent philosophies and institutional factors as determinants of talent management in SMEs: A French country-specific empirical investigation. Personnel Review, 54(1), 309–333. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-08-2023-0700
Abid, K., & Loufrani, S. (2024). Talent management in small and medium-sized enterprises: Towards an integrative multilevel approach in the French context. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 46(5), 1191–1216. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-12-2023-0634
Alimansyah, M., & Takahashi, Y. (2023). How does perceived organizational justice mediate talent management of non-high potential employees and their outcomes? Journal of Advances in Management Research, 20(1), 79–95. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-04-2022-0074
Anlesinya, A., Dartey-Baah, K., & Amponsah-Tawiah, K. (2019). Strategic talent management scholarship: A review of current foci and future directions. Industrial and Commercial Training, 51(5), 299–314. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-11-2018-0095
Asplund, K. (2020). When profession trumps potential: The moderating role of professional identification in employees’ reactions to talent management. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(4), 539–561. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1570307
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 21(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12360
Cantoni, F., Muzzi, C., & Gianecchini, M. (2025). Talent management in SMEs: Unraveling the role of contextual factors. Human Resource Development Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21566
De Boeck, G., Meyers, M. C., & Dries, N. (2018). Employee reactions to talent management: Assumptions versus evidence. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(2), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2254
Dries, N., & Kaše, R. (2023). Do employees find inclusive talent management fairer? It depends. Contrasting self-interest and principle. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(3), 702–727. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12501
Farndale, E., Agarwal, P., & Budhwar, P. (2022). Outcomes of talent identification in economically liberalized India: Does organizational justice matter? Journal of Business Research, 144, 740–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.02.043
Gallardo-Gallardo, E., Thunnissen, M., & Scullion, H. (2020). Talent management: Context matters. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(4), 457–473. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1642645
Hapsari, N., & Flåten, B.-T. (2026). Exploring talent management practices in emerging small and medium-sized enterprises: A multiple case study. Human Resource Development Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.70015
Harney, B., Gilman, M., Mayson, S., & Raby, S. (2022). Advancing understanding of HRM in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Critical questions and future prospects. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 33(16), 3175–3196. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2022.2109375
Harsch, K., & Festing, M. (2020). Dynamic talent management capabilities and organizational agility—A qualitative exploration. Human Resource Management, 59(1), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21972
Jooss, S., Collings, D. G., McMackin, J., & Dickmann, M. (2024). A skills-matching perspective on talent management: Developing strategic agility. Human Resource Management, 63(1), 141–157. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22192
Kaliannan, M., Darmalinggam, D., Dorasamy, M., & Abraham, M. (2023). Inclusive talent development as a key talent management approach: A systematic literature review. Human Resource Management Review, 33(2), 100926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100926
King, K. A., & Vaiman, V. (2019). Enabling effective talent management through a macro-contingent approach: A framework for research and practice. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 22(3), 194–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brq.2019.04.005
Kravariti, F., Oruh, E. S., Dibia, C., Tasoulis, K., Scullion, H., & Mamman, A. (2021). Weathering the storm: Talent management in internationally oriented Greek small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 8(4), 444–463. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-01-2021-0022
Krishnan, T. N., & Scullion, H. (2017). Talent management and dynamic view of talent in small and medium enterprises. Human Resource Management Review, 27(3), 431–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.10.003
Kroon, B., & Paauwe, J. (2022). HRM in 21st century small organizations: A midrange typology to describe, contrast and contextualize the phenomenon. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 33(16), 3224–3251. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2021.1915359
Meyers, M. C., van Woerkom, M., Paauwe, J., & Dries, N. (2020). HR managers’ talent philosophies: Prevalence and relationships with perceived talent management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(4), 562–588. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1579747
Tasoulis, K., Theriou, G., Kravariti, F., Scullion, H., & Hylton, Y. (2025). Talent conceptualisations, talent management bundles and their drivers in small and medium-sized enterprises: A polycontextual perspective. Human Resource Management Journal, 35(4), 957–976. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12608
Vardi, S., & Collings, D. G. (2023). What’s in a name? Talent: A review and research agenda. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(3), 660–682. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12500
Widodo, A. S., Qamari, I. N., Handayani, S. D., & Roni, M. (2024). Talent management in managerial succession planning: A qualitative study. JBTI: Jurnal Bisnis: Teori dan Implementasi, 15(1), 114–124. https://doi.org/10.18196/jbti.v15i1.21442
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Idayanti, Muhammad Raechan Syafruddin HS, Nissa Nadisa, Sitya Giona Nur Alam, Muhammad Fatwatul Haq

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.




