Talent management insights from a multinational automobile company in India: a case of glocalised resilience

Purpose This study explores how a multinational automobile subsidiary in India navigates institutional duality to develop a glocalised talent management (TM) approach. It investigates the interplay between global corporate mandates and local cultural, structural and ecological constraints, offering insights into strategic human resource management within a capital-intensive automobile manufacturing sector in India. Further, this paper explores how multi-national corporations (MNC) manufacturing units are addressing the TM challenges when located in a remote industrial cluster and examines the tension between structured TM systems and the demands for agility and inclusivity. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative single-case study was conducted using semi- structured interviews with 18 senior managers and human resources (HR) professionals in an MNC Subsidiary Automobile Manufacturing Company in India, supplemented by internal documents and archival data. Analysis followed the Gioia methodology, enabling systematic data reduction from 27 first-order codes to 10 second-order themes to 04 aggregate theoretical dimensions that capture the organisation’s TM strategy. Findings The organisation achieves glocalised resilience through four interlinked mechanisms: cultural synthesis blending parent-company discipline with Indian workplace norms; structurally rigorous talent pipelines; compensatory ecosystem-building to overcome geographical constraints; and proactive adaptation to technological change and diversity pressures. These dimensions collectively sustain competitive advantage within a constrained institutional environment. Originality/value This study challenges technology-centric, white-collar biases in TM literature by foregrounding a capital-intensive manufacturing context. It introduces the concept of compensatory ecosystem engagement as a strategic response to location-based constraints and offers an empirically grounded framework of glocalised resilience relevant to emerging economies facing similar institutional complexities.