Career Success Career Success : An Exploratory Study of Managers

Recent studies have evaluated career strategies and their relationship to career success. Previous research has evaluated career success as perceived by persons evaluating others' carec.,*s, generally with such criteria as job title, salary, and promotions. This study examined career success through a combination of objective and subjective measures. Managers (N=194) from 14 businesses, each with 1,000 or more employees, participated by completing a questionnaire assessing their views on career development. The questionnaire contained four segments: social background variables; organizational and situational variables; career strategies and tactics; and success. It was found that the measures formed three factorS: (1) level and income, (2) satisfaction, and (3) hierarchical career development. Success on two of the factors, hierarchical career development and level and income appeared best predicted by social background characteristics such as age, years in career, and education. In contrast, organizational and situational variables and strategy factors added little to the prediction of any success factor. Results imply that the efficient allocation of human resources demands that decision makers become increasingly aware of the prevailing perceptions of career success in their employees. The ultimate goal of management should be the best "fit" possible between individual and company needs, to maximize benefits for all involved. (Author/ABL) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** Career Success: An Exploratory Study of Managers' Urs E. Gattiker The University of Lethbridge Laurie Larwood The University of Illinois at Chicago Short Title: Career Success U S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educatbnai Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTE (ERIC) VI Ibis document nes been reproduced as received from the person or organIzabon originating It Mmor changes nave been made to improve reproduction quattly Pools of view or opiniOnSSIated m this ()Mu mere do not necessanty represent of 1.mai OERI position or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED By TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI." 'Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Urs E. Gattiker, School of Management, The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta. T1f 7M4, CANADA