Intrinsic motivation of senior professionals in the business IT function: linking career anchors to a social cognitive framework

The intrinsic motivations of IT professionals play an important role in their work performance and personal ambitions. It follows that a greater understanding of these motivations would be of benefit to both the IT professionals and their organisations. The purpose of this research is to investigate factors that determine the intrinsic motivations of IT professionals and how to identify these motivations on an individual basis. Twenty-nine senior professionals from the business IT function are interviewed in this study; ten in an exploratory pilot study and nineteen in the main study. One outcome from the pilot study is the need for a tool to assist in the consolidation of the interview data. This resulted in the development of a theoretically-based research instrument. A grounded theory approach is used to analyse the interview data, supported by a qualitative data analysis tool. The research instrument is used in the main study to consolidate the interview responses. A software application is developed to assist in the data entry, collation and visualisation of the research instrument data. Established theory, in the form of career anchors and a social cognitive framework, is used to inform the development of a theoretical framework; the framework is operationalised through the data collection research instrument. The theory in its operationalised form is subsequently validated in a commercial setting. This research demonstrates how a theory may be developed using existing theories as the building blocks for a theoretical framework and operationalised through a research instrument. The application of the theory assists in the identification of dynamic and durable intrinsic motivations at different career stages. The theory presented adds to our understanding of intrinsic motivation and how it influences career decisions; this is not limited to intrinsic motivations of IT professionals. The research instrument is not limited to interviews; it can also be used in, for example, group settings, as is demonstrated during the validation process. The Intrinsic Motivation – Social Cognitive Framework theory has potential for further research in the areas of career stages and contexts other than intrinsic motivation. In its operationalised form, the validation process has demonstrated its usefulness in an organisational setting, giving a greater understanding of intrinsic motivation as it pertains to individual IT professionals and the perceptions of their employers about them.