Boundarless Careers essay Plan

Question 1

Paragraph 1

Introduce differences in careers

Answer 1

• Definitions of traditional (Arthur and Rousseau) and boundaryless careers (Van Buren)
• Explain the change from upward to lateral career movement
• Explain the change in the psychological contract- less commitment to a single company

Question 2

Paragraph 2

Benefits to individuals

Answer 2

• Explain the benefits that Arthur and Rousseau identified (liberation, take control of own professional development, flexibility)
• Enhances employability (Van Buren)

Question 3

Paragraph 3

Drawbacks to individuals

Answer 3

• Explain the inequalities between tier 1 and tier 2 workers. Tier 2 easily replaceable so likely to be negatively impacted (Van Buren)
• Boundarylessness can restrict an individuals ability to engage in career development (Hirsch and Stanley)
• Inability to move up the Dreyfus and Dreyfus model- never become an expert in anything
• Voluntary v involuntary boundarylessness (Currie)

Question 4

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Benefits to organisations

Answer 4

• Gives them the ability to cut costs and downsize (Perrow)

- Provides them with more employable future staff who have a range of skills

Question 5

Paragraph 5

Drawbacks to organisations

Answer 5

• Ethical responsibility for the organisation to make employees more employable= increased costs (Van Buren)
• Loss of knowledge through people leaving the company more frequently= loss of skills

Question 6

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Benefits to society

Answer 6

-Creates a society of more employable individuals (Van Buren)

Question 7

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Drawbacks to society

Answer 7

• Contributing to the widening of the Precariat- people existing without predictability or security (Standing)
• Adding to the effects of Diploma Disease- unintended consequence of the belief that educational certificates are key to obtaining the best jobs (Dore)
• Society has been weakened (Perrow)

Question 8

Conclusion

Repeat viewpoint from introduction

Answer 8

• People are still dependant on traditional careers
• Although they appear to have some benefits, especially for individuals, they’re negatively impacting greater society and the organisations in which individuals try to pursue these careers through.