Employability and the psychological contract in European ICT sector SMEs

Dora Scholarios, Beatrice I.J.M. van der Heijden, Esther van der Schoot, Nikos Bozionelos, Olga Epitropaki, Piotr Jędrzejowicz, Peter Knauth, Izabela Marzec, Aslaug Mikkelsen, Claudia M. van der Heijde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1035-1055
Number of pages21
JournalInternational Journal of Human Resource Management
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008

Keywords

  • career management
  • employability
  • ICT sector
  • psychological contract

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