Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
8-2012
Abstract
We propose a person-centered framework for conceptualizing subjective careers in an increasingly boundaryless work context. Specifically, we argue that entrepreneurship, professionalism, and leadership (EPL) can serve as three key dimensions of subjective career space. We relate this framework to earlier macro-level national and organizational career models proposed by Kanter (1989) and Schein (1978). Our empirical study involving 10,326 Singaporean university students demonstrated that entrepreneurial, professional, and leadership career aspirations (including motivations, efficacies, and intentions) can be measured independently, that these career dimensions are independent of vocational interests, and that they are to some degree viewed as competing career alternatives. We also show that EPL motivation profiles can operationalize the boundaryless and protean career concepts. Individuals concurrently high in entrepreneurial, professional, and leadership career motivations, and those high in entrepreneurial and leadership motivations are highest in boundaryless and self-directed career attitudes, while those primarily motivated for professional careers hold the most traditional career attitudes. We conclude by discussing the potential of the framework for understanding human resource issues at organizational and national levels and for enhancing the study of entrepreneurship, professionalism, and leadership.
Keywords
Professionalism, Boundaryless career, Career attitudes, Career aspiration, Leadership, Entrepreneurship
Discipline
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Leadership Studies | Strategic Management Policy
Research Areas
Strategy and Organisation
Publication
Journal of Vocational Behavior
Volume
81
Issue
1
First Page
73
Last Page
88
ISSN
0001-8791
Identifier
10.1016/j.jvb.2012.05.001
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
CHAN, Kim-Yin; HO, Moon-ho R.; CHERNYSHENKO, Oleksandr S.; BEDFORD, Olwen; UY, Marilyn A.; GOMULYA, David M.; SAM, Y. L.; and PHAN, Wei Ming J..
Entrepreneurship, professionalism, leadership: A framework and measure for understanding boundaryless careers. (2012). Journal of Vocational Behavior. 81, (1), 73-88.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5841
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.05.001
Included in
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Strategic Management Policy Commons