Management Work and Society - Research Paper Example

? Management Work and Society Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts (18, February, Introduction The choice for career is a very important decision in a person’s life. There are different factors that influence the choice of a profession. These factors may include salary and perks, personal satisfaction etc. In today’s competitive world the choice for profession defines a person’s life. With the evolution of industrialization and development of different commodity and financial markets a wide range of career options are available today. But at the same time there are many factors that prevent career choice options from being achieved. These factors include age, gender, race and education etc. All these factors might restrict a person’s career choice options. We will try to shed more light on these factors in the text below. Our discussion will include differences between achieved and ascribed roles. The main theories of occupational choices will also be examined and how these theories relate to the different roles. Objective and subjective constraints on occupational choice will be elaborated upon. Our discussion will also include analysis of the possible ways to reduce barriers for exercising career choice. Finally future organization and their effects on career choices will be examined. Differences between Achieved and Ascribed Roles A role is defined as a set of behaviour that is followed by a person acting in a social situation. The concept of role is very important because they have a huge impact on the behaviour of a person observing any role. Doctors and nurses are more responsible because they have a huge responsibility (saving people’s lives) so any person who is a doctor or a nurse will try to be responsible. Roles are of two types; they can be achieved or ascribed. Ascribed roles are those that are assigned to a person from inheritance. These roles are not based on merit but are based on the traits which are beyond one’s control (Stark, R. 2007). Achieved roles on the other hand are based on merit and personal skill. A person’s personal efforts and abilities have a role to play in his or her achieved roles. Gender, age, nationality etc. are some of the ascribed roles. These roles are involuntary in nature. Achieved role include doctors, engineers, criminals, footballers etc. These roles are based on one’s personal abilities and are voluntary in nature. Both of these roles have an impact on career choice. Due to some ascribed roles like gender and age a person might not be able to pursue a profession like baseball. Key Theories of Occupational Choice There are two main approaches that explain how a person chooses his or her occupation. These include developmental approach of occupational choice and structural approach. There is another theory called impulse or accidental theory of occupational choice. All three of these theories attempt to explain how a person chooses profession. Accidental theory of occupational choice gives a very simple explanation of career choice. It says that people choose their profession simply because of external factors that are beyond their control. Chance plays a role in occupational choice according to this theory. If we consider this theory to be true then all people become what they are simply because of events that are not in their control. The choices are voluntary but these choices are not because of interest in a particular field or goal of personal development rather they are an outcome of uncontrollable events. The achieved roles of a person according to this theory are also because of factors that are not controlled by the person. Uncertain events determine even the achieved roles of a person. It is however important to note that a personal merit of a person still plays a role after the choice of occupation but the choice itself is characterized by accident or chance. There is some empirical evidence that supports this theory as many famous people choose their profession by accident (Ginzberg, et.al 1951). Structural approach suggests that there are three groups of factors that affect career choice. Non work structural factor include family, class, race and gender. These factors influence the career decision of a person. Individual approaching work factors include cash, motives, knowledge and aspirations. These factors tell that people choose profession that are compatible with their personalities for example a disciplined person will join the army and a caring person will try to become a teacher or a nurse. The third group of factors is called work sphere structural factors and it includes number and type of job vacancies. All these factors are said to influence career choices of a person. Developmental approach of occupational choice emphasizes on the self concept of a person. It says that personal ambition of a person contributes to the occupational choice. There are two researchers Ginzberg and Super who have given their model of development in career choices. The model given by Super has five stages through which a person passes through and during these stages he or she chooses his or her profession. The first stage is crystallization in which a person first develop career goal. In the second stage called specification that particular goal is made more specific. The third stage is called implementation in which person resolves to training in the particular field. Stabilization and consolidation is the last two stages in which career choices are confirmed and advancement is sought (Sharf, 1997). The model developed by Ginzberg has identified three stages of development. These stages are fantasy, tentative and realistic. The first stage of fantasy is at a very young age when children have very little idea of roles. They only have fantasies in which they believe. The second stage is tentative in which individuals become aware of the world around them. In this stage different choices are evaluated but no decision is made. In the third stage a more realistic approach is taken and proper decision is made (Ginzberg, et.al 1951). All these theories will help us explain the factors that restrict career choice options. There can be no one answer as to how an individual picks his or her career but these approaches have increased our understanding on the subject.. This understanding will aid us in identifying constraints on occupational choices. Constraints on Occupational Choice The constraints on vocational choice may be objective or subjective in nature. Objective constraints include cash, skill, knowledge and physique. Subjective constraints include motives, interest, expectations, power, and job satisfaction. The difference between subjective and objective constraint is that the former is related to one’s own thinking and perception while the latter is related to all people. First we will talk about objective constraints. Money or cash is a constraint in career choice simply because some professions require capital. Starting a business may not be very cheap and that is why money is a constraints. Also higher education is required in some professions like treasury management and heart surgeons. Skill and knowledge are also constraints because they restrict the choices of profession for a person. Skill is required for every profession and without it no one can excel in any field. Knowledge is also important in order to identify different career options. Lack of knowledge about professions reduces the choices available to a person. Physique is also important in professions like football and baseball. A person without a good physique may not be able to join even a school football team and as a result his career options will narrow. Subjective constraints also impact a person’s choices. Aim of a person influences his career choice and so does interest. If a person wants to be famous then he will not choose a profession like teacher or retail manager. He will look for professions which are of interest to him or which fulfils his ambition. Expectations are major constraints in career choice. Expectations from a job play a very important role in occupational choice. If these expectations are not good or are not met then a person is likely to switch professions. The role of expectations is the greatest when it is related to personal growth and promotion (Viet, A. 1996). Power is also a potent barrier in career choice. People look for professions that are authoritative and are associated with power like managers, commanders etc. These professions involve authority and people like authority over others. These occupations are perceived as powerful. People are inclined towards profession which they perceive powerful. We cannot identify certain power professions as they are different for different people. Job satisfaction is also important in determining occupation. People usually look for professions which give job satisfaction. Individuals may define satisfaction differently. This is also a factor that restricts career choice options from being achieved. Role of Gender, Class, Race and Education on Occupational Choice The barriers to occupational choice restrict a person from pursuing a profession. Gender is one of the barriers that restrict career choice options simply because there are certain preconceptions or perception about gender role as well as some professions. Social class from which a person belongs may also influence career choices. Some professions are particularly associated with some classes. Race is still a factor in today in choosing a profession. Education plays a great role in career choices. All these factors play a role in occupational choices. Very early in age children learn through social interactions the different gender roles as perceived by the society. According to the developmental theory of occupational choice career choices are made early in the life and they are strengthen with the passage of time. These early influences of society teach important lessons regarding gender role. There are certain professions that are associated with specific genders like nursing and pre primary teaching and military (in some cultures). Females are caring in nature so they fit in the well as nurses and primary teachers while men are tough so they go for construction or military which involve physical rigor. These influences are working on occupational choices even without our conscious effort. Actually society has established certain images or perception of males and females. These perceptions affect career choices. Race and ethnicity is still a major obstacle and causes employment issues. This also effect career choices for individuals. There are certain professions that are associated with a particular race and people find it very hard to break the social norms and join other professions. With all talk of modernity and social equality still today society restricts career choices for non white individuals. Career choices were found to be racially motivated with strong patterns seen in college major fields that were linked to race and gender (Yingyi, M. 2010). Like gender racial differences are also learned at a very early age. The treatment of society causes minority race people to find employment in areas where they can find people of same race. Racial discrimination is also a factor that plays a role in recruiting and selection of employees for a particular job. Social class and neighbourhood also impacts career choices. Children look up to people around them and when they will see a miner or an electrician they might make him or her as a role model. A person who lives in a community where almost everyone works in particular industry say fishing is likely to join the same profession. Also there are mental blocks regarding and perception regarding a profession. In a lower middle class family a profession like stock broker or an investment banker might not be even considered for a child. There are perceptions that some jobs are for some classes of people and one should try to pursue a career in those field only. Information is also given about careers and professions that the family thinks is appropriate for their social class. A person belonging to a higher class might not even consider bus driving a profession. This is how social class works behind occupational choice. Education has probably the greatest influence on career choice. Attitude towards education of the family and the child plays a great role in his occupational choice. Education actually creates barriers for career choice. In order to join professions like doctor and engineer precise education is needed. Therefore availability of education is important for pursuing career in such fields. A poor family might not be able to afford high level education and that at once reduces career choices for children. Education also plays a role because some jobs require higher GPA’s so personal ability also comes in the play. Education is important because it helps a person excel in any field. This is why it is the biggest factor in occupational choice. How to Overcome Barriers to Exercising Career Choices Barriers to career choices can be overcome by changing the attitudes and perceptions of people regarding jobs, race and social status. These attitudes and perception are the biggest barriers to occupational choice. The influence of society in this case is not good for children because their self interest might be pressed down. Society inculcates all kinds of biases in the children and that is why they develop perceptions about professions. The susceptibility of the child makes him vulnerable to all the pressure that society exerts on him and he is forced to make decisions that might not be in their best interest. In today’s world barriers are being removed and a wide range of career choices are available for teenagers. Financial barriers are being reduced by scholarships so students should be allowed to choose for themselves in what field they want to pursue a career. Most of the barriers that exist are only in the minds of the people and change in thinking patterns might help us remove these barriers. Another way to remove barriers to career choices is to ensure that all relevant information is available for the children. Absence of information is a big reason due to which career choices are reduced. There are also misconceptions about certain professions. By exposing children to information about different professions at a very early age might help them in choosing the right career for themselves. Parents can also play a role in career choices by not forcing children into education for their own preference. Children should be allowed to choose for themselves about their own lives. Teachers can also help children in identifying their interest by doing different activities. Finally companies and educational institutes should identify patterns of racial bias in their recruiting and selection process. This can help in reducing gender and racial discrimination and can at the same time increase career choices for people. Nature of work and individual’s orientation to Work Nature of work influences orientation to work in many ways. Professions like doctor require more care and skill. It is a job that requires great responsibility because it involves saving a life. Now a person who is a doctor will be more careful in his life and will be responsible. This is why a responsible person will be more attracted towards this profession. Nature of work in this way influences orientation to work. Career choices are made keeping in mind the nature of work. A job which requires long working hours will definitely influence a person’s orientation to work. But at the same time it influences career choice. A hardworking job will interest a hard working person. People sometimes switch careers because they are not able to associate themselves from the nature of work. The Changing Organization and the Future of Work The organizations are changing rapidly with flatter structures and more reliance of technology. It is possible today to work from home through computer systems. This changing nature of work will also influence career choice options. Factors like mobility will not hinder in career choices. A person can today do his job from another city so technology has reduced boundaries. Also people from different countries have now a chance to apply to jobs which they think suits them best. The organization structure today is flatter and that reduces racial discrimination and bias in the company. These things can affect career growth so without it career choice options can be achieved. Also the process of recruitment and selection is also becoming less bias with the advent of HR firms. Able individuals are hired irrespective of their gender, class or race by these HR firms and merit is the only criteria. Technology has developed so much so that new professions are now available to people that did not exist 10 years ago. Information technology is regarded as the best field to work in today’s world (Kanesigh, T. 2009). Newer jobs have been created in other industries as well and this increases the career options for individuals. Occupational choice is growing constantly with newer technology coming out on a daily basis. Also knowledge is available to everyone today. Online tests are taken by company to recruit people. This has made everyone possible to apply for jobs in short career choices have increased. Conclusion The meaning of work can be different for different people. Some go for monetary gains and other go for respect or authority. The career choices of people are influenced by their aims. Career choice today is very important for a person. It tends to define him all his life. Career is a label that an individual cannot get rid of until he is dead. It is a status symbol and it identifies a person in the society. This is why career choice is very important in today’s world. There are many career choice options available to us today but at the same time there are subjective and objective constraints that restrict us in career choices. Status, gender, race, class and education impact our career choices in many ways. Society creates biases and perceptions in our mind and that influence our career choices. Some professions are seen more associated to certain races or genders. In this way career choice options are reduced for people. These barriers are subjective in nature and they are in the mind of the individual. Bibliography Ginzberg, et.al. 1951. Occupational Choice: An Approach to a General Theory. New York: Columbia University Press. Kanesigh, T. 2009. Surprise! Tech is a safe career choice today. Info World. [Online] Available at < http://www.infoworld.com/d/adventures-in-it/surprise-tech-safe-career-choice-today-339> Sharf, R. 2001. Applying Career Development Theory to Counseling. California: Wadsworth Publishing. Stark, R. 2007. Sociology, Tenth Edition. California: Wadsworth Publishing. Viet, A. 1996. Motives of the career choice and expectations of the profession in nursing students. US National Library of Medicine. [Online] Available at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8715574> Yingyi, M. 2010. College major choice, occupational structure and demographic patterning by gender, race and nativity. The Social Science Journal Read More