Role Of Personal Values Research Articles

Career Choices of Successful Business Executives

Five potential determinants of career selection were investigated for vice‐presidential level business executives: time of decision to enter a business career; significance of personal influences in career choice; importance of family socio‐economic status; role of personal values; and effect of long‐range goals as they relate to choice of career. Personal interviews were conducted with 102 executives meeting four selection criteria. The total sample was divided into three subgroups based on each respondent's function in the company to reveal intra‐occupational differences in career selection. It was concluded that there is a definite pattern of background characteristics related to executive competence. The findings of this research may be used to identify and direct potential executive manpower into business.