Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100071
Title: The career paths less (or more) traveled : a sequence analysis of IT career histories, mobility patterns, and career success
Authors: Slaughter, Sandra A.
Joseph, Damien
Boh, Wai Fong
Ang, Soon
Keywords: DRNTU::Business::General::Careers and profession
Issue Date: 2012
Source: Joseph, D., Boh, W. F., Ang, S., & Slaughter, S. (2012). The career paths less (or more) traveled: A sequence analysis of IT career histories, mobility patterns, and career success. MIS Quarterly, 36(2), 427-452.
Series/Report no.: MIS quarterly
Abstract: This paper examines the objective career histories, mobility patterns, and career success of 500 individuals drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), who had worked in the information technology workforce. Sequence analysis of career histories shows that careers of the IT workforce are more diverse than the traditional view of a dual IT career path (technical versus managerial). This study reveals a new career typology comprising three broad, distinct paths: IT careers; professional labor market (PLM) careers; and secondary labor market (SLM) careers. Of the 500 individuals in the IT workforce, 173 individuals pursued IT careers while the remaining 327 individuals left IT for other high-status non-IT professional jobs in PLM or lower-status, non-IT jobs in SLM careers. Findings from this study contribute to refining the concept of "boundaryless" careers. By tracing the diverse trajectories of career mobility, we enrich our understanding of how individuals construct boundaryless careers that span not only organizational but also occupational boundaries. Career success did not differ in terms of average pay for individuals in IT and PLM careers. By contrast, individuals in SLM careers attained the lowest pay. We conclude this study with implications for future research and for the management of IT professionals' careers.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100071
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17815
ISSN: 0276-7783
Schools: Nanyang Business School 
Rights: © 2012 University of Minnesota, Management Information Systems Research Center. This paper was published in MIS quarterly and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of University of Minnesota, Management Information Systems Research Center. The paper can be found at the following url http://misq.org/the-career-paths-less-or-more-traveled-a-sequence-analysis-of-it-career-histories-mobility-patterns-and-career-success.html. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:NBS Journal Articles

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