Career orientation of IT personnel

ABSTRACT

The management of information technology (IT) personnel poses unique challenges, including high turnover, limited advancement potential, low organizational commitment, and burnout. By matching individual expectations and job characteristics, managers may be able to provide IT professionals with appropriate opportunities and career paths. This study is designed to identify the career anchors or orientations which are possessed by IT personnel, and to identify which career anchors are the strongest determinants of organizational commitment. Based upon preliminary results of the pilot survey, the respondents expressed a variety of career anchors, including Organizational Stability, Variety, Managerial Competence, and Geographic Security. The career anchors and career orientation variables that were less important to the respondents were Identity, Technical Competence, Creativity, and Autonomy.

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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
      K.7.1 Occupations

General Terms:
Human Factors, Management, Performance

Keywords:
IT workforce, career anchors, organizational commitment