The Threat-Rigidity Model of Professional Obsolescence and Its Impact on Occupational Mobility Behaviors of IT Professionals

This study examines how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence. We adopt the threat rigidity model to explain the relationship between threat of professional obsolescence and occupational mobility. In addition, we argue that professional commitment moderates the relationship between the consequent cognitive coping mechanisms of threat and occupational mobility. We collected data from 192 IT professionals using a survey methodology for data collection. Initial results of the field study provide strong support for the threat-rigidity hypotheses with professional commitment moderating the relationship between the cognitive coping mechanisms and occupational mobility

Organization Support as a Moderator in Coping with the Threat of Professional Obsolescence

This study examines how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence and how organizations may playa role in helping IT professionals cope with this threat. In answering these questions, this study draws on theories ofoccupational stress, specifically the theory of conservation of resources (Hobfoll 2002; Hobfoll et al. 1993), to relate thethreat of professional obsolescence with IT professionals’ coping behaviors. This study extends the theory of conservation ofresources by proposing organizational updating climate as a proximal contextual moderating factor in how IT professionalscope with the threat of professional obsolescence. The results obtained from a large sample of IT professionals show that ITprofessionals are more likely to cope by directly rather than indirectly updating their IT competencies in relation to the threatof professional obsolescence. Organization updating climate supports IT professionals’ coping by providing a supportiveenvironment to undertake both direct as well as indirect updating. By contrast, direct updating is preferred over indirectupdating in organizations where there is lower updating support. We conclude this study with a discussion of the results andtheir implications for research and practice

SUSTAINABLE IT-SPECIFIC HUMAN CAPITAL: COPING WITH THE THREAT OF PROFESSIONAL OBSOLESCENCE

This study contributes to research examining how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence. In answering this question, this study draws on theories of occupational stress, specifically the theory of conservation of resources (Hobfoll 2002; Hobfoll and Freedy 1993), to relate the threat of professional obsolescence with IT professionals’ coping behaviors. This study extends the theory of conservation of resources in several directions such as theorizing and testing the job mobility intentions of turnover and turnaway as consequences; and by proposing organizational updating climate as a proximal contextual moderating factor. The results obtained from a large sample of IT professionals are both consistent with and contrary to theorized relationships. We also uncover several new findings pertaining to the role played by organization updating climate and its potential limit in supporting updating activities of IT professionals. We conclude this study with a discussion of the results and propose future research directions

Exploration of Global Perspectives, Teacher Passion, and Professional Commitment of Second Stage Agriculture Teachers in the Western United States

Teacher retention is an issue among teachers of school based agricultural education (SBAE). While there is a focus on supporting teachers through their induction years, second stage teachers (years 4-10) are frequently ignored as a demographic during in a critical point in their careers. This study sought to describe the global perspectives, teacher passion, and professional commitment as well as demographics of interest in the population second stage teachers of SBAE from two Western states (N = 286). The census resulted in a response rate of 43.8% (N = 116). Further, the researchers explored these factors among a sub population of second stage teachers who participated in a 10-day intensive professional development event in Ecuador during the Summer of 2018 (n = 7). This quantitative, non-experimental study utilized survey research methods to distribute three instruments: The Global Perspectives Inventory, The Pulse of a Teacher Scale, and the Push Pull Mooring Instrument. This study was conducted in three parts and used descriptive-correlational, static-group comparison, ex post facto, and static-group pretest posttest design to carry out the objectives. In some cases, there were violations to assumptions for parametric statistical tests and the researchers employed non-parametric tests to analyze the data. Findings indicated second stage teachers of SBAE two Western states are primarily white females between ages 25 and 34 who are in their 5^th year of teaching. Further, global perspectives, teacher passion, and gender described an insignificant 3% of the variance in professional commitment among second stage teachers of SBAE. When comparing teachers who elected to participate in the intensive professional development event in Ecuador, there were no significant differences across the variables. Additionally, pretest and posttest data indicated no significant changes in global perspectives, teacher passion, or professional commitment after participating in the event in Ecuador. Results from this study offer a starting point for exploring the second stage teacher of SBAE as well as describing their commitment towards the profession of teaching agriculture at the secondary level