The social context of turnover among information technology professionals

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the role played by social support from supervisors and colleagues in helping to minimize turnover intentions among computer professionals. Although the concept of social support has been widely used in the occupational stress literature, it has rarely been applied in turnover research. This study explains why social support is particularly salient to computer professionals' turnover. It develops a model that posits that (i) social support is positively related to job satisfaction, (ii) social support is negatively related to turnover intentions, and (iii) social affiliation needs moderate the relationship between social support and turnover intentions. The model is tested using data collected from a questionnaire survey. The results support six of the seven hypotheses. Specifically, they indicate that workplace social support is negatively related to turnover intentions for computer professionals with high social affiliation needs, and that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between social support and turnover intentions. Implications of the results are discussed.

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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

General Terms:
Management

Keywords:
job satisfaction, social support, turnover