Utilization of the career anchor/career orientation constructs for management of I/S professionals

ABSTRACT

Management of I/S personnel has consistently ranked among the top concerns of MIS management. Similarly, from the employee's perspective, there are indications that the lack of attention to careers and career planning is a key problem facing I/S personnel. These issues are addressed by further investigating the "career anchor" or "career orientation" concept developed by Schein (1978) and expanded by DeLong (1982). Crepeau et al. (1990) confirmed the existence of career anchors/orientations for I/S personnel. In the present study the discriminatory power of the career anchors among I/S job types, gender, and years of experience is analyzed. Though statistical results were marginal, the authors conclude that it may be more productive for managers to focus on those anchors which do not discriminate in order to better match employers' and employees' career objectives.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management
          Subjects: Staffing

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.7 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION

General Terms:
Human Factors, Management, Measurement, Performance