Predictive factors of turnover in a Federal
University: a contribution to the managerial perspective through AHP.
Name: PAMELLA DE MEDEIROS ROMEIRO
Publication date: 30/09/2025
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRE FORMIGONI | Examinador Externo |
| OSMAR VICENTE CHEVEZ POZO | Examinador Interno |
| WELLINGTON GONCALVES | Presidente |
Summary: The increasing turnover among technical-administrative staff in federal higher
education institutions, such as the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES),
presents a critical managerial challenge. This phenomenon directly impacts
institutional stability, leading to the loss of valuable organizational knowledge,
disruption of essential service continuity, increased demands for training new
employees, and potential demotivation among remaining team members. Thus, this
study primarily aimed to identify predictive attributes that contribute to increased
turnover within a federal higher education institution and, concurrently, to determine
the most effective and sustainable long-term retention strategies. Methodologically,
a quantitative survey was conducted with a representative sample of 272
technical-administrative staff members at UFES. The Analytic Hierarchy Process
(AHP) method was used for the analysis and prioritize the collected data. The results
of the AHP analysis revealed that "Working Conditions and Well-Being" constitute the
most influential and decisive factor in employees' decisions to leave. Further
exploring this finding, "Recognition of service provided" and "Workplace Justice"
significantly stood out as the primary motivators for either staying or leaving.
Subsequent analysis of potential solutions for mitigating turnover indicated that the
"Integrated Program for Valuation and Quality of Life at Work (PVQ)" is the most
effective strategy. Consequently, this research offers valuable insights grounded in
empirical data, supporting the development and implementation of more efficient,
proactive, and human-centered retention strategies in public management. As a
Technical/Technological Product, a Communicative Guide of Best Practices for
Talent Retention Management was developed, which aims to translate the scientific
findings into actionable and direct recommendations for managers, thereby
facilitating the application of more strategic, human-centered personnel management
policies aligned with the real needs of public sector employees, and contributing to
the sustainability, efficiency, and excellence of services provided to society.
