Competencies, employability, mobility and work-life integration

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Date
2009
Authors
Samuel, Rachel Samuel
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to explore the “arrival” of the “new career” at the Malaysian world of work. The “new career” is seen as moving away from the traditional career which emphasized on hierarchical advances in one or two organizations in the work life of an individual. Literature on career all over the world have started to give prominence to this area of study as new challenges are faced in terms of globalization and liberalization of the trade markets. This study employed four variables which have been used to explain the changes at the workplace. These variables, namely, competencies, employability, mobility and work-life balance were tested in an antecedent-outcome model. This study would perhaps be the first one which has looked at the relationships of the above mentioned variables to help obtain a better understanding of the “new career”. The respondents were made up of 152 Masters in Business Administration (MBA) graduates who have been employed for a minimum of three years after their MBA and are currently employed in the manufacturing or service sectors. Data were collected by means of questionnaires. To reduce common method bias, the immediate supervisors of the respondents were also requested to answer a set of questionnaires. The results from the analyses have indicated moderate support for the hypotheses. The study highlighted the importance of the “knowing how” and the “knowing whom” competencies in order to pursue employability both in the internal and external labour markets. The “knowing why” competencies which provides the motivational input where career is concerned highlighted different dimensions that need to be given in-depth thought as different motivational aspects would need to be looked at as the nature of careers begin to change. Interestingly, the changes in the attitude of men towards physical mobility were obvious in that they portrayed a stronger attitude towards keeping their current job than moving beyond boundaries. Mobility in the physical sense is more obvious after attaining MBA, however, more obvious in this movement is the move between industries more than functional moves or organizational moves. This study would be useful for employers to maintain highly employable employees in the internal labour markets. For the employees, the importance of employability in maintaining their current job and pursuing future options would be better understood. It can be implied from the study that women fare better in the “new career” as they are more flexible and purpose-driven. Men, on the other hand are more inclined to the traditional career patterns.
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PhD
Keywords
Management , work-life integration , antecedent-outcome study
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