Talent Management Challenges During COVID-19 in a Developing Economy

Document Type : Original Article

Author

MBA, Business School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted global work environments, particularly in developing economies. This study investigates how a Bangladeshi food-services company managed talent during the early pandemic phase.

Methods: A survey of 30 mid-to-senior-level managers conducted in 2021 assessed operational disruptions, remote work challenges, and financial pressures. Quantitative analysis using SPSS, including multiple regression, identified drivers of employee performance decline.

Results: Performance decline was significantly predicted by pandemic disruption (β = 0.64, p < 0.001) and resistance to change (β = 0.85, p < 0.001), explaining 72% of variance (R² = 0.72). Strategic practices such as cross-training and remote work planning mitigated performance risks.

Conclusion: While data are from 2021, the findings establish a valuable baseline for longitudinal HRM research. Organizations in developing economies must institutionalize agile, digitally enabled workforce strategies to enhance resilience against future crises.



Keywords: talent management; COVID-19; remote work; organizational resilience; cross-training; digital communication; contingency planning; performance management

Keywords

MSA-Management Sciences Journal
Volume 4, Issue 3
August 2025
Pages 45-64

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics