IOP3703 SUMMARISED
EXAM NOTES 2023
BEST REVISION PACK.
,IOP3703 Exam Memo
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The meaning of work .................................................................................................................. 4
Work values .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Advancement ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Power .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Status .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Social values .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Sense of belonging in society ................................................................................................................ 6
Work-family enrichment ....................................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 2: Changes in organisations: implications for careers .................................................................... 8
The 21st century workforce ...................................................................................................................... 9
Implications of the changing organisation for careers in the 21st century ............................................. 11
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 3: Career concepts and career models ......................................................................................... 16
Career concepts ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Career models ......................................................................................................................................... 21
A plan-and-implement career model .................................................................................................. 23
Test-and-learn models ........................................................................................................................ 26
Chapter 4: Career choice and counselling .................................................................................................. 31
The Life-Career Rainbow ......................................................................................................................... 31
The Segmental Model ............................................................................................................................. 32
Chapter 5: Life and career stages ............................................................................................................... 34
Career development of men and women ............................................................................................... 34
Early life/career stage ............................................................................................................................. 35
Middle adulthood life/career stage ........................................................................................................ 37
Late life/career stages ............................................................................................................................. 38
Chapter 6: Career issues ............................................................................................................................. 39
Career anchors ........................................................................................................................................ 39
Definition of career anchor ................................................................................................................. 39
Types of career anchors ...................................................................................................................... 39
Career anchors and career development ........................................................................................... 41
Chapter 7: Career well-being ...................................................................................................................... 42
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,IOP3703 Exam Memo
Approaches to well-being ....................................................................................................................... 42
Subjective well-being .......................................................................................................................... 42
Psychological well-being ..................................................................................................................... 43
Eudaimonic well-being ........................................................................................................................ 44
Organisational interventions .................................................................................................................. 44
Assessment and evaluation of employees .......................................................................................... 45
Coaching programme for newcomers ................................................................................................ 45
Career conversations .......................................................................................................................... 45
Participation in large group meetings ................................................................................................. 45
Job redesign and work changes .......................................................................................................... 45
Empowering leadership ...................................................................................................................... 45
Training ............................................................................................................................................... 45
Effective communication and feedback.............................................................................................. 45
Career development ........................................................................................................................... 45
Interaction with co-workers................................................................................................................ 46
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, IOP3703
Chapter 1: The meaning of work
Work values
The term ‘values’ is used interchangeably to denote norms, beliefs, principles, preferences,
needs, interests, intentions, codes, criteria, world-view or ideology. Such terms suggest that
values can be seen as orientations or dispositions that selectively determine modes of
behaviour and life forms, including work behaviour and work forms. Values guide the
selection or evaluation of behaviours and events, remain stable over time and are generally
ordered in terms of relative importance by different people. Values develop as a result of
external socio-cultural forces and internal psychological factors that influence the
individual.
The Protestant work ethic postulated that work has moral value, that each person has a
calling to work, that people should develop their talents and that all, including the rich,
should work. This work ethic is associated with the development of capitalism. Over time,
much of the religious meaning of the Protestant work ethic declined. Occupational
achievement through hard work and thrift remained work values, but were seen as of
intrinsic value to the individual. Protestant values such as self-reliance and mastery are
transferred to children by child-rearing practises, which lead to achievement motivation.
Two norms seen as necessary in conceptualising the meaning of work are the individual’s
obligation to society and entitlements of the working individual. The obligation norm
includes beliefs about the duties of work, namely that workers should be expected to think
of better ways to do their jobs; that it is one’s duty to contribute to society by working, that
a large portion of income should be saved, that monotonous work is acceptable if pay is fair
and that workers should value the work they are doing. Entitlements concern beliefs about
the rights of working, namely that a job should be provided to every individual who wishes
to work, that the educational system should prepare every person for a good job if they
exert reasonable effort, that, if workers’ skills become out-dated, their employer should be
responsible for retraining and re-employment and that, when changes have to be made in
work methods, the superior should ask workers for their opinions.
Since value can have an impact on work performance, performance values per se are
important in research on values. Measured performance values include the work ethic,
pursuit of excellence, status aspiration, and authoritarianism, the need for material gain,
mastery and competitiveness.
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