Talent Management: A Case Study of Namibia’s Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) in Securing Talent for Aviation Safety

Abstract

This study presents a deductive case study of the initiatives undertaken by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) of Namibia over the period 2008 to  2014 in securing talent for aviation safety. The aim of the research is to analyse this talent management programme from the perspective of the  literature on talent management, with a focus on strategic positions in organisations. The results of the study describe and analyse the talent  management activities that were adopted. Some of the findings of the study were in line with this strategic positions approach to talent  management, while this theoretical perspective also identified a number of shortcomings of the programme. However, certain challenges that were  encountered in carrying out the talent management programme could not be addressed from this perspective, thereby exposing the limits of this  approach to talent management in an emerging economy like Namibia. Recommendations are made for practice and further research, including  organisations like the DCA taking responsibility for developing talent beyond organisational boundaries.