The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the influence of professional soldier' protean career attitude upon subjective career success (career satisfaction and employability) and organizational effectiveness (job satisfaction and organizat...
The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the influence of professional soldier' protean career attitude upon subjective career success (career satisfaction and employability) and organizational effectiveness (job satisfaction and organizational commitment) via the medium of career commitment and then present suggestions for the policy of military career management and human resource development. For this, following three study questions were established:
First, "What is the effect of protean career attitude upon career commitment, subjective career success and organizational effectiveness?" Second, "What is the influence of career commitment upon subjective career success and organizational effectiveness?" Third, "What is the role of career commitment in the relationship among protean career attitude, subjective career success and organizational effectiveness?"
Study subjects were 412 professional soldiers whose rank was above sergeant first class(SFC) at the Ministry of National Defense, H Headquarters, C Command, H Staff College, and field forces below the level of corps. In order to verify the validity and reliability of test tools, confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis were carried out and then its correlations were analyzed. In order to examine the perceptual difference of study variables according to professional soldiers' demographic features, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were carried out. In order to examine the influential relationship of test variables with study models, the appropriateness of study models and its mediate effects, structural equation model analysis was carried out. And in order to examine the difference of study models according to age groups, multi-group analysis was carried out.
Study findings are as follows:
First, as for the influence of protean career attitude upon career commitment, career satisfaction, employability, job satisfaction and organizational commitment, the protean career attitude had positive influence upon all the variables, except organizational commitment. The protean career attitude had no significant influence upon organizational commitment.
Second, as for the influence of career commitment upon career satisfaction, employability, job satisfaction and organizational commitment, it had positive influence upon all the variables.
Third, as for the mediate effect of career commitment in the relationship among protean career attitude, career satisfaction, employability, job satisfaction and organizational commitment, career commitment had partial mediate effects upon protean career attitude, career satisfaction, employability and job satisfaction. Since organizational commitment had influence only when the protean career attitude was mediated by career commitment, it was confirmed that career commitment had complete mediate effects.
As an additional study, study subjects were divided into such age groups as soldiers in their 20s, 30s and 40s and above respectively and model appropriateness and causal channel were examined. Study findings showed that there were differences among the three groups. The protean career attitude of professional soldiers in their 20s had positive influence upon employability, career satisfaction, job satisfaction and organizational commitment in order, except career commitment. The protean career attitude of professional soldiers in their 30s had positive influence upon career satisfaction, career commitment, employability and job satisfaction in order, but it had no direct influence upon organizational commitment. Career commitment had positive influence upon organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and career satisfaction in order and had mediate effects as well. The protean career attitude of professional soldiers in their 40s had positive influence upon career commitment, career satisfaction, job satisfaction and employability in order, but it had no direct influence upon organizational commitment. Career commitment had positive influence upon job satisfaction, organizational commitment, career satisfaction and employability in order and had mediate effects as well. In order for the protean career attitude of professional soldiers in their 30s and 40s above to have positive influence upon organizational commitment, it was necessary for the career commitment to play a mediate role.
Study implications are as follows:
First, the protean career attitude is such a variable as having positive influence not only upon private business entities but also upon the subjective career success of soldiers in the military organization. Second, since the protean career attitude positively function not only for individuals' subjective career success but also for organizational effectiveness via the mediate role of career commitment, it is necessary for military authorities to put more support and interest in the protean career attitude of professional soldiers. Third, in order for the protean career attitude to have positive influence upon organizational effectiveness via organizational commitment, it is necessary for career commitment to paly the role of mediation. In order to induce professional soldiers' career commitment, therefore, military authorities must regard not only a few elite soldiers but also all the members as valuable resources individually and then prepare a multilateral career development system in order to enhance their specialty. Fourth, since the causal channel and influence of protean career attitude upon career success and organizational effectiveness are different by ages, it is necessary for the career management policy to be established by ages.