Career orientations of MIS employees in Taiwan

Abstract

Career orientations of employees play an important role in affecting the selection of specific occupations and work settings and the employees' reactions to their work experience. The role of information technology in creating and sustaining competitive advantage has focused research attention on the career management of MIS professionals and the strategies used to realize their career aspirations. Data about the career orientations of 90 MIS employees in Taiwan and their relationships with selected demographic and career variables show that the highest orientation was job security, followed by service, challenge and life-style, respectively. The lowest orientation was technical competence, followed by autonomy and entrepreneurship. Differences in the pattern of career orientations across several demographic variables (gender, marital status and job type) were also explored. Correlations were found to exist between certain career orientations and career outcomes (satisfaction, commitment and intention to leave). Differences between the orientations of MIS employees in Taiwan and in the United States are discussed. Suggestions are offered to MIS managers on ways create flexible career structures in order to attract and retain MIS employees.