5. Career Models, Including Portfolio And Protean Approaches (Week 10)

Question 1

Describe traditional careers

Answer 1

1. progress through linear stages
2. Evolve within the context of one or two organisation
3. Job security in return for loyalty, commitments and adequate performance
4. Managed on a planned basis by the organisatin
5. Firm specific skills rather than general skills
   6 Success defined by the organisation and measured by promotions, salary increases and status
6. Dominated research until the 90s

Question 2

Context for changing career enviroment

Answer 2

1. Shifts in career resonsibility
2. greater employement precariousness in some industries
3. increase in participation of women - dual income
4. Downsizing, flatter organisational structure
5. Increased outsourcing and casualisation
6. Changing expectations, values and goals of individuals
7. Increased global competion

Question 3

What are the emerging forms of career

Answer 3

1. Doesn’t have to go upwards only. Can go side-ways or be non-linear
2. Can encompass multiple jobs across many companies
3. Success measured by factors other than career
4. Broad based employability skills emphasisesd
5. Individual responsbile for career

Question 4

Cautionare issues regarding contemporary careers

Answer 4

• organisational commitment
• turnover
• absenteeism
• job performance
• organisational citizenship behaviour

Question 5

What is a boundaryless career

Answer 5

• workers no longer consider themselves bound to one organisation
• workers operate as free agents
• broader criteria for gauging career success - meaningful work, skill utilisation, work-life balance and fulfilling relationships
• focused on skill development and marketability as a way to advance career rather than promotion and tenure

Question 6

What is a protean career?

Answer 6

• Adaptable, flexible, independent worker capable of reienvention
• manage own career
• Personal identification with meaningful work. Career success = being able to do meaningful work
• continuous self-directed learning, autonomy, flexibility and self-fulfilment
• enlargement of career space to include non-work activities

Question 7

What is a portfolio career?

Answer 7

• individual balances a portfolio of different changing opportunities
• collection of different bits and pieces of work for different clients - often a consultant or contractor
• portfolio of jobs is constantly changing
• Maintaining employ ability is key
• can assist individuals to achieve work-life balance but tend to be less secure careers

Question 8

What is kaleidoscope career theory

Answer 8

• early career - predominant life / career pattern for women is to be concerned with goal achievement and challenge
• midcareer - women cope with issues of balance and family / relationshi demnds and therefore compromise wish for challenge
• Late career - women have been freed from balance issues and issues of authenticity arise

Question 9

Describe the changing career enviroment

Answer 9

1. shifts in career responsibility
2. greater employment precariousness in some industries
3. increase in participation of women in the workforce
4. downsizing, flatter organisational structures
5. increased outsourcing and casualization of the workforce
6. changing expectations, values and goals of individuls
7. increased global competition

Question 10

Organisational implications for kaleidoscope career theory

Answer 10

1. offer flexible work schedules
2. recognise that linear progression may not be relevant
3. field experiences, re-entry attraction
4. review reward systems based on facetime long hours and travel commitments
5. redefine family friendly
6. lobby government for initiatives to support