Career anchors, organizational commitment, and job plateaus: An analysis of hotel executive operating committee members' career development

Jeffrey Allen Beck, Purdue University

Abstract

This study surveyed 447 hotel executive operating committee (EOC) members at hotels with 300 rooms or more on issues related to their careers. Using an adaptation of Schein's Career Anchor Inventory, the executive operating committee members were classified by one of the following career anchors: technical, general manager, autonomous, security, or entrepreneurial. These anchors, along with age, gender, and functional areas of responsibility were hypothesized as related to a manager's plateaued status (in his or her job for five years or more). Findings suggest that age and the career anchor are related to whether the EOC member is plateaued or not. Gender and discipline were not found to be related. The EOC members were tested for their level of organizational commitment, using the nine-item Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). This data was then compared by discipline and whether the manager was plateaued or not. The results indicate that there is a difference between disciplines. Executive operating committee members in the marketing discipline were found to be less committed to the organization than other EOC members. Managers who were plateaued scored the same on the OCQ as managers who were not plateaued. The executive operating committee members were asked for their perceptions on the causes of voluntary and involuntary plateau. The results indicate that female executive operating committee members were more concerned about geographic location and family matters than male executive operating committee members.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Pearson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Adult education|Continuing education|Management|Labor relations

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