TY - JOUR
T1 - Employability and the psychological contract in European ICT sector SMEs
AU - Scholarios, D.
AU - Van der Heijden, B.
AU - Van der Schoot, e.
AU - Bozionelos, Nikos
AU - Epitropaki, O.
AU - Jedrzejowicz, P.
AU - Knauth, P.
AU - Marzec, I.
AU - Mikkelsen, A.
AU - Van der Heijde, C.
PY - 2008/6
Y1 - 2008/6
N2 - This article explores the employability of information and communication technology (ICT) professionals from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The first stage of analysis, based on over 100 interviews with managers of ICT supplier companies in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the UK), showed most SMEs to have a generally ad hoc approach to managing the employability of their ICT professionals. Assessment and development plans were used primarily to keep skills current to business needs; however, the more developed northern European markets showed greater awareness of the ‘high commitment’ benefits of a more sophisticated approach towards career management (e.g. through mentoring or career planning). A second stage of analysis based only on UK interviews builds on this to propose a model of positive employer influence on psychological contracts through career and employability management practices.
AB - This article explores the employability of information and communication technology (ICT) professionals from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The first stage of analysis, based on over 100 interviews with managers of ICT supplier companies in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the UK), showed most SMEs to have a generally ad hoc approach to managing the employability of their ICT professionals. Assessment and development plans were used primarily to keep skills current to business needs; however, the more developed northern European markets showed greater awareness of the ‘high commitment’ benefits of a more sophisticated approach towards career management (e.g. through mentoring or career planning). A second stage of analysis based only on UK interviews builds on this to propose a model of positive employer influence on psychological contracts through career and employability management practices.
U2 - 10.1080/09585190802051337
DO - 10.1080/09585190802051337
M3 - Article
SN - 0958-5192
VL - 19
SP - 1035
EP - 1055
JO - International Journal of Human Resource Management
JF - International Journal of Human Resource Management
IS - 6
ER -