Talent Management and Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Manufacturing Firms in South -South, Nigeria

This research purpose is to investigate the correlation between talent management and sustainable competitive advantage in manufacturing firms situated in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey approach, involving a total of six hundred and eleven (611) employees. A sample size of two hundred and forty-two employees was selected through the simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaires, and the analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings indicated a significant positive relationship between the various dimensions of talent management (specifically, talent development and talent retention) and the indicators of sustainable competitive advantage (including cost leadership and organizational responsiveness). The study concludes that talent management plays a crucial role in driving the sustainable competitive advantage of manufacturing firms in South-South Nigeria. The recommendations include emphasizing the need for manufacturing firms’ management to provide ample development opportunities, such as training, to enhance employees’ skills, thereby contributing to the firm’s differentiation advantage