Indigenous and boundaryless careers: cultural boundaries in the careers of Māori academics

Abstract

Boundaryless career theory has been criticised for its ambiguity and lack of attention to the range of boundaries that influence careers. However, career scholars have also indicated there is hope for the theory through calls to understand a broader range of boundaries, and a continued interest in exploring boundaries, their properties, and career behaviours as people respond to these boundaries. In this article, we examine career boundaries specific to Indigenous (Māori) business academics. Consequently, we seek to extend boundaryless career theory by explicating how cultural boundaries act as key organising mechanisms in the careers of Māori academics in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on 27 interviews with three participant groups, findings from this national study demonstrate how cultural boundaries, specifically cultural responsibility and cultural conduct, guide individual and collective career behaviour, priorities and aspirations. Further, from the perspective of non-Māori business school decision makers, cultural boundaries serve to challenge the legitimacy of Māori academics as knowledge producers, limiting career opportunities for Māori in the academic context. Our findings contribute to the advancement of boundaryless career theorising and underscore not only the important role culture plays in career enactment and decision making, but also the need for a shared understanding from managers and human resource professionals to facilitate career opportunities for Indigenous Peoples.