Management Values,Work Preference Ideals,and Personality Needs as Predictors of Hospitality Industry Employee Career Anchors

Abstract

This article examines Schein's (1992) conceptualization of career anchors as explanatory variables among Australian hospitality industry employees. The career anchors of job satisfaction, job security, and continuing employment were identified as the more prominent anchors. Major work preference ideals to emerge included friendly co-workers and skill utilization, whereas major management values involved management fairness, management/worker communication, work recognition, and effective management communication. Management discipline emerged as the least esteemed value. It was also found that younger workers were more likely to be associated with the career anchors of job security and continuing employment whereas female workers were associated with the career anchor of job satisfaction. The career anchors of job security and job satisfaction were found to be associated with a high work preference for friendly and understanding coworkers, whereas the career anchors of job satisfaction and continuing employment were found to be associated with high levels of skill utilization as a prominent work preference. Professionals in hospitality management need to more actively foster the supervisory role among potential managers.