An analysis of IS technical career paths and job satisfaction

Abstract

Technical career paths have been implemented in Information Systems (IS) departments to address the career development needs of employees whose career aspirations are not met by the traditional managerial career path. Understanding how to meet the needs of the technically oriented IS employee is important to IS career planning and development. Much has been written in both academic and popular literature about what composes a successful technical career path. Equity theory has been used in much of the existing research on technical career paths. This literature suggests that a successful technical career path should provide equitable rewards to those of a managerial career path. The present research establishes scales for four "key success factors" - equitable compensation, career path status, decision making influence, and career planning tool availability --- and examines the relationship of perceived equity of these factors to job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is relevant to an organization because it has been shown to be related to motivation to stay in an organization and organizational commitment. IS personnel on a technical career path were surveyed with regard to their equity perceptions and job satisfaction. Scales for the perception of equity for all four success factors were established. Data analysis showed that only the perception of equity of career planning tool availability is related to job satisfaction for these employees. Implications for management and areas for further research are discussed.