Managing Butterfly Career Attitudes: The Moderating Interplay of Organisational Career Management

Abstract

A protean career attitude is the most attractive and coping career adjustment attitude nowadays. Based on the social exchange theory, this study empirically analyses the association between protean career attitude and affective organisational commitment for Malaysian hotel industry employees. It also examines the COVID-19 situation’s retrospective repercussions and career uncertainty. The study also investigates the moderating role of organisational career management on the relationship between protean career attitudes and affective organisational commitment. During the pandemic, a cross-sectional survey was given to 403 hotel managers working in four- or five-star hotels. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling in Smart-PLS. The results showed that self-directed and value-driven protean career attitudes undermine affective organisational commitment. Organisational career management significantly moderated the relationship between a protean career attitude and affective organisational commitment. In light of this, organisational career management is essential when dealing with protean careers. Lastly, the person’s practical implications are significant. People should have a protean career attitude to deal with unpredictability, such as the COVID-19 epidemic and remain invincible over the long run.