Factors influencing self‐directed career management: an integrative investigation

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the protean career and other variables, including organizational learning climate, individual calling work orientation, and demographic variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data were obtained from a sample consisting of 292 employees of two South Korean manufacturing companies in the private sector. To collect the research data, this study employed the web survey method.

Findings

The study results showed that two organizational learning climates – embedded system and system connection – and calling orientation had significant positive relationship with the protean career. Demographic variables did not relate significantly to the protean career.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides an empirical approach to related environmental and psychological variables influencing the protean career based on the literature review.

Practical implications

The results have implications for both researchers and practitioners in that the study examines the protean career as it relates to the organizational learning climate and provides suggestions for establishing strategies that foster employees' self‐directed career management attitudes.

Originality/value

This paper offers new and useful insight into the predictors of self‐directed career management by exploring variables related to the protean career.

Citation

Park, Y. (2009), "Factors influencing self‐directed career management: an integrative investigation", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 33 No. 7, pp. 578-593. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590910985363