Organizational socialization, career aspirations and turnover intentions among design engineers

Abstract

Purpose -Turnover intention is one's behavioural intention to quit. The purpose of this study is to compare the relative influences of organizational socialization and career aspirations on turnover intentions of design engineers and to address the design of more effective development programmes and the reduction of dysfunctional turnover. Design/methodology/approach -A study of 442 engineers staffed within "design and development" units is presented, and a research model is tested using structural equation modelling techniques. Findings -The analysis indicates that design engineers report lower levels of turnover intention when organizational socialization is prominent and an adequate range of opportunities that satisfy career aspirations exist within the organization.Research limitations/implications -The cause-effect relationships among constructs that are empirically derived from the analysis should be further supported by a longitudinal study. Future research should be aimed at exploring the different patterns of turnover intentions of engineers with different career orientations and in organizations with or without rigid formalized career advancement system. Practical implications -Managers of technical staff are advised to put an effort to develop and encourage lateral career moves of research and development staff members, particularly for newcomers, by offering a variety of experiences, that is likely to speed up their prompt creation of a better defined self-concept. Originality/value -The originality of the research lies in that it addresses an explanation of engineers' turnover based on a theoretical framework that jointly combines internal career anchors as well as external career opportunities and socialization, thus striving to fill a gap in existing literature.

The effect of the organizational socialization on organizational commitment and turnover intention with regard to moderate effect of career aspirations intention

“…The employees with lower satisfaction levels on identity, job security, and technical advancement often have a lower level of career satisfaction and a higher rate of turnover (Herzberg et al, 1959). Bigliardi et al (2005) believed that the extent of one's "internal career anchors" should be viewed as an individual's career motivations and they assert that external opportunities provided by an organization was negatively associated with turnover intentions.…”

“…Based on the results, it is indicated that role ambiguity and role conflict influenced job performance. Taormina (1997), fits all these dimensions into four generalized constructs that are used by Bigliardi et al (2005) and in the present study:…”

“…The socialization of individuals in organizations is the process through which individuals learn and identify organizational and unit values, expectations about job-related behaviors and the social knowledge necessary to assume roles as productive members (Bigliardi et al, 2005). Van Maanen and Schein (1979) developed the most popular typology of organizational socialization, their typology consists of six bipolar tactics.…”

“…Career anchors only evolve as one gain occupational and life experience. The career anchor influences career choices, influences decisions to leave, determines an individual's view of the future, and shapes employee reactions to work experiences (Bigliardi et al, 2005). This study considers nine internal career orientations (Schein, 1975;Bigliardi et al, 2005):…”

The Relationship between Management Traits and the Commitment of IT Engineers to their Organizations

“…Many studies such as Cohen and Golan (2007) and Park and Kim (2009) have investigated the relationship between intent to quit and job satisfaction, while Bigliardi, Petroni and Dormio (2005) linked intent to quit to interpersonal relationship. However, none of these studies have specifically focused on the commitment and intent to leave of IT engineers in relation to their managers' traits.…”