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Identification & Measurement of the Career Orientations of Sharif University MBA Students with Work Experiences and Antecedents of the Orientations

Sharifi, Iman | 2009

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 39862 (44)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Management and Economics
  6. Advisor(s): Alavi, Babak
  7. Abstract:
  8. Career orientation has been defined as one’s career aspirations and preferences regarding to the self realization of his/her needs, values and competencies with attention to environmental factors such as opportunities and threats, For example one who wants to establish his/her own business has entrepreneurial career orientation. In spite of the importance of identifying MBA students’ career orientations, it seems that past studies have paid little attention to this topic in Iran. The results of this study can be a helpful guide in educational planning of management faculties regarding to students’ career orientations and for organizations in human resource management regarding to required MBAs’ career orientations. A qualitative study was conducted through interviews with 24 Sharif university MBA students with sufficient work experiences. Using the theme analysis technique, five types of career orientations were identified, namely entrepreneurial, managerial, management consultancy, academic and hybrid. In addition some antecedents of these career orientations were identified mainly based on the students’ career anchors such as needs, values, competencies that may be moderated by external factors such as organizational factors and macro environmental factors. Some impacts of the MBA program on selecting these career orientations were also identified namely creation, reinforcement, attenuation of career orientations and introducing sub career orientations. A quantitative study was also conducted through self reported questionnaires for measuring career orientations by ninety six Sharif university MBA students. Using exploratory factor analysis technique, the validity and reliability of this questionnaire was tested. Finally, a revised questionnaire was developed for future studies.

  9. Keywords:
  10. Career Orientation ; Need ; Value ; Business Management ; Competency ; External Factors

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