Managerial career anchors in a changing business environment

Abstract

Trainers need to consider changes in working practices, which, it is argued, influence managers' perceptions of their careers. A total of 540 managers were interviewed, and a questionnaire was used to measure the relative importance of individual career anchors. It was found that younger managers were more orientated towards their own skills and what they could contribute, whereas older managers were more inclined to be aware of the limitations of their role in the organisation. It was stressed that the difference between the perception of their careers of the younger and older managers is something which the trainer needs to consider. Also significant to the trainer was how similar male and female managers were in their perceptions of their career anchors.