Pay and Play LO4504

KARL M. SOEHNLEIN (ksoehnle@sescva.esc.edu)
Sat, 30 Dec 1995 14:41:26 -0500

Replying to LO4476 & LO 4452

Hi! I have been a passive observer of the LO for the past
few months and it's time to introduce myself. My name is
Karl Soehnlein. I'm a retired (took the offer) NYNEX middle
manager, currently working on a Ph.D. in business education
at NYU, and teaching communication and management courses at
three different universities/colleges. Many of the topics
being discussed on the LO not only interest me, but are also
relevant to my dissertation. I am currently working on my
proposal on why some "survivors" of downsizing organizations
are involved in their own self-development (to gain new
skills and competencies) while others are not. A few recent
comments reflect this idea of self-development:

Roseanne said:
> When we force our people into the rigid boxes of a job
description, we rob them of the freedom to employ their
natural gifts and acquired skills and learning....

Carol responded with:
> Individuals must look at (and develop) themselves as multi-
skilled, talent banks that can move across fields, where the
need is or create a market for their services....

To which Gary responded:
> Gone are the days when you could be employed for a life-
time....Just as businesses are re-engineering, people have
to re-engineer themselves. They have to wake up and find
ways to learn and re-learn continuously.

While I agree with all of these comments, I am interested in
the gap between what people must/should do and what they are
actually doing. Based on my experiences in a downsizing
corporation, I have found that some individuals are
committed to and take the initiative in their own self-
development, while most others wait for someone else to do
it for them

With corporate America espousing "employability" as the new
job contract, replacing the old contract of job
security/entitlements, why aren't more individuals taking
responsibility for their own self-development? And more
specifically, what differentiates thoes that do from those
that don't?

These two questions are the central theme of my
dissertation. I am looking at self (initiated)-developmental
activities as my dependent variable and job insecurity, self-
efficacy, goal orientation (Dweck model of performance and
learning goal orientation), career planning and some
demographic data as my independent variables.

Any thoughts, ideas, and/or suggestions???

--
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Karl Soehnlein
   85 THIRD AVE.       INTERNET:KSOEHNLE@sescva.esc.edu
   WESTWOOD, NJ 07675
   (201) 664-6135
   Life is a JOURNEY not a destination
   so - Learn from its experiences
   and - Master your possibilities
  ------------------------------------------------------------------