Running their own show: Malaysian women entrepreneurs’ kaleidoscope careers

PurposeConsiderable research has been conducted to highlight women's career decisions to opt-out of corporate positions, but little is said about those who leave to become entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to theorize kaleidoscope career parameters in relation to entrepreneurship stages and demonstrate the role of macro-national context (i.e. government initiatives and cultural practices) in women entrepreneurs' career choices.Design/methodology/approachThe authors interviewed 34 Malaysian women entrepreneurs (MWEs) who were established in their careers and explored the following two research questions: (1) what career parameters are prioritized at different entrepreneurship stages? and (2) how does macro-national context influence women entrepreneurs' careers?FindingsAdopting a kaleidoscope career lens, the authors show that authenticity was prioritized during the initial entrepreneurship stage, while balance and challenge were prioritized during the establishment and business advancement stages, respectively. The authors demonstrate that government support was conducive to women's decision to opt-in and stay in the entrepreneurship path. The findings also denote that cultural practices facilitated women's pursuit of entrepreneurship by encouraging family members to support women entrepreneurs in their career choices and actions.Originality/valueThe qualitative approach enabled us to specify the context-specific meaning women entrepreneurs in our study associated with authenticity, balance, and challenge. In doing so, this research extends the kaleidoscope career model to better understand women's career patterns at different entrepreneurship stages.

General characteristics of civil service systems

The article is devoted to highlighting the general features of different systems of civil service organization. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that Ukraine's participation in globalization and European integration processes reflects the need to study the experience of states that make up the Western legal tradition, which should focus on civil service systems, based on the tasks of the state in democratic societies. Ukraine. It is noted that in the postmodern era there is a need to rethink the classical models of civil service organization, analysis of modern systems of such organization and the formulation of generalized conclusions, their systematization. The purpose of the article is to systematize and generalize the various systems of civil service organization: classical, mixed and modern, available in the European political space. The focus is on the identification of three classic systems of civil service organization that are immanent to the states of the European community: career, job and mixed. The prevalence of the career model in these states is indicated, however, the states do not focus on the characteristics of such a model, using the contamination of individual features of each of these systems. There are such features of the career system of the civil service as strict compliance with the statutory requirements as a condition for career growth of the employee; disregard for experience in the private sector; features of remuneration and pension provision of civil servants; regulation of subordination relations; normative consolidation of rules of conduct for civil servants, etc. The defining feature of the modernization model of the civil service is the management of purely public interests and demands. The transient model assumes belonging to models with open orientation. The postmodernist model is an excellent vision, illuminating a new categorical apparatus (individual values, humanistic principles, openness). A characteristic feature of the mixed model is the contractual relationship between a public employee and a government agency. The significance of the main provisions and conclusions of the study is determined by the possibility of their use in public administration in Ukraine.

TELECAREER: ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF STRATEGIC CAREER BEHAVIOURS ON IBERIAN TELEWORKERS

This paper aims to present the state of the art, objectives, methodology and expected results of a project that investigates the nature, causes and consequences of the use of strategic career management behaviours in an Iberian sample of teleworking adults. Specifically, our purpose is to analyze the strategic behaviours - authenticity, balance and challenge - according to the Kaleidoscopic Career Model developed by Sullivan and Mainiero (2008). The role of self-efficacy beliefs, the desire for career control, and perceived organizational support, as antecedents of those career behaviours, will be assessed, as well, as the consequences of their use on perceived career control, objective and subjective career success, and career satisfaction. The aim is to develop an explanatory model of career management for Iberian teleworkers, with implications for the design of human resource development programmes in organisational contexts. It is an innovative project on the international scenario, by the target population on which it focuses, but also by the combination of the selected career variables.

Authentic Talent Development in Women Leaders Who Opted Out: Discovering Authenticity, Balance, and Challenge through the Kaleidoscope Career Model

We investigated the parameters of authenticity, balance, and challenge as viewed through the lens of the Kaleidoscope Career Model to discern the career motives of women who opted out and then returned to the workforce. We also were interested in comparing women and men in their leader practices. We triangulated quantitative and qualitative methods to explore these phenomena. First, in Study 1, 2009 individuals completed both the Kaleidoscope Career Self Inventory (the KCSI) as well as an abbreviated version of Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices Inventory (the LPI). Participants rated their needs for authenticity, balance, and challenge on the KCSI as well as their leader practices of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, modeling the way, enabling others to act, and Encouraging the Heart. Women were found to exceed the leader practices of men, and women were most interested in authenticity. In Study 2, situational mapping and life history process was used to determine themes of eight high-achieving women who opted out. We interviewed an additional 15 women to deeply understand and assess their opt-out and re-entry experiences as well as “career shocks” they experienced upon returning to the workforce. Our second study offers a robust, deep, penetrating look into social ascription processes and endemic discriminatory social structures that hold women back from achieving advancement. To stop this “brain drain” of talent, we propose a series of actions for human resource professionals to develop the authentic leadership talent of women who reenter the workforce.

Advancing a Sustainable Career Model for Political Science Students: Implications for Career Development Research and Practice

This paper aims to assist lecturers, universities, and their administrators in improving the relevance of political science undergraduate degree programs in the context of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. This paper will reflect on how to tailor the political science degree to achieve a sustainable career and improve students' employability in the future. The latest theoretical frameworks incorporating the concept of "sustainable" career development were used in advancing the model of employability in the political science field. The author relies on a qualitative approach and the literature review with implications for practice in advancing the notion that competency-based approaches with the development of specific skills are vital in ensuring relevance and sustaining career opportunities for modern political science students in the future. Educators should rethink how they deliver political science degrees, keeping in mind the emerging trends in technology, pedagogical approaches, and HR practices in the respective job markets. This paper offers insight into how to tailor an exciting political science program for the future of work.

Self-initiated expatriation and older women: composing a further life

PurposeResearch into self-initiated expatriation (SIE) has increased exponentially, although the focus of these investigations has been on professional workers, and little has been gender specific. The purpose of this research therefore is to explore the career and personal motivations for SIE through the novel lens of older women. In this exploratory study, SIE and socio-emotional selectivity motivation theories (SSTs) are used, in addition to the Kaleidoscope Career Model (KCM), to understand the reasons these women have taken this path.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on in-depth life story interviews with 21 women aged 50 or more who had taken a SIE. A five-step narrative process using a story-telling approach was the method of analysis.FindingsThe findings show important contradictions to the extant literature. Career dissatisfaction and escape are key motivations for these women. Further, contrary to SST, these women were seeking novelty–new places and new experiences. These women were also seeking authenticity as suggested by KCM, but also challenge was to the fore–not in the career domain, but in the personal domain. Their motivations for SIE extend beyond the current evidence base and understanding of the phenomena.Originality/valueThe contributions include new insights into the motivational drivers for SIE for these older women and the importance of timing as facilitators of SIE. The SIE nomenclature is broadened through the inclusion of older women and beyond professional spheres. An initial framework of a more integrated model is developed from this exploratory study and presented as a basis for beginning to understand the phenomenon of older women undertaking SIE.

Dwelling Possibilities: Career Perceptions of Single Women at Mid-Career in Education Sector of Pakistan

This research study explores the perceptions of single women at their mid-career stage in the education sector of Pakistan. The Kaleidoscope Career Model (KCM) has been used as a theoretical framework to interpret the research data gathered through semi-structured interviews with five participants (single women) working in public and private sector educational institutes in Pakistan. The interviews covered four main aspects, out of which three aspects were borrowed from KCM (Balance, Authenticity, and Challenge) and an additional aspect of Perceived Organizational Support (POS). The result of the study supported all four aspects. Data gathered on these four aspects reflect five major themes (satisfaction, balance, challenge, development, and support) that were common in the responses of all participants. This research provides useful insights and an in-depth understanding of single women’s mid-career perceptions in Pakistan’s education sector in a male-dominated society.

Careers in the Greek public sector: calibrating the kaleidoscope

PurposeThe authors draw upon the kaleidoscope career model (KCM) to explore the career perceptions of public service employees in Greece.Design/methodology/approachQualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 33 civil servants.FindingsThe authors’ demonstrate how context frames career perceptions and propose an additional KCM parameter (security).Research limitations/implicationsThis context-based study proposes an extension of the KCM theory beyond the original three parameters that were dominant at its inception.Practical implicationsThe authors provide recommendations for human resource practices, such as empowerment through training, fair promotions and providing meaning. Despite the common perception, the need for challenge exists even within the public sector, such that satisfying it can help organizations to gain strategic advantage.Originality/valueThis study expands a prominent career theory by exploring it in a unique context. By doing that, the authors are able to better understand how the parameters of the model are readjusted in different settings and to uncover a previously unidentified theme.