The career life of academics: Boundaried or boundaryless?

Abstract

The existence of tenure exerts opposing forces on the careers of academics. Ideally, tenure ensures academic freedom and individual autonomy. Yet tenure also regiments the lives of those on the tenure-track and often creates inertia for individuals once receiving it. Consequently, academic careers can be characterized as either boundaried or boundaryless, depending on the individual. This article develops a typology of four academic career types that identifies what differentiates tenure-track individuals who perceive themselves as having either boundaried or boundaryless careers in academia. The typology was developed using interview data from business school faculty, and then confirmed using qualitative data including faculty from multiple academic departments and disciplines. Finally, the typology makes its contribution to career theory by considering the additional impact of career stage theory for academics.