Career orientations of information systems employees in South Africa

Abstract

Managing the careers of information systems (IS) personnel is important to the strategic use of information in business. Finding appropriate mechanisms for motivating IS personnel will likely re-emerge as a critical success factor for IS managers. This study examines dimensions and levels of career orientations and their correlations with individual and work-related outcome variables among 112 IS employees in South Africa. The findings reveal a rich diversity of career orientations held by IS employees. The data strongly suggest that IS employees are very service- and security-oriented. IS personnel in South Africa are also lifestyle and managerially oriented. However, IS personnel scored low on technical orientation and entrepreneurship. This paper suggests that the dual career ladder is not an effective device for managing IS personnel. Organizations must be careful to provide career paths that retain and motivate workers and more importantly find a match between the organizational needs and the individual needs and restructure jobs accordingly. Suggestions for future research are offered and implications for management are identified.