Within the Context of the Boundaryless Career Critically Analyse the Coursework - 1

Within the Context of the Boundaryless Career Critically Analyse the Challanges Faced by Graduate in a Volatile Global Economy - Coursework Example The theoretical underpinnings of the concept are explored along with criticisms meted out since its conception. Additionally, it looks at how globalisation has impacted the traditional organisation in such a way that organisations are now operating not only outside of their physical location but are moving aspects of their operations to other locations. Furthermore, it points to the increasing need of graduates to be well rounded and be given the skills and knowledge required for them to be able to think outside of the box as well as for them to be able to apply themselves in any given situation. Theoretical Perspective The notion of the boundaryless career was introduced by Arthur (1994) and has become a very popular concept (Pringle and Mallon 2006, p. 839). According to Arthur et al (qtd. in Arthur and Rousseau 1996, p. 4) the term career refers to â€Å"the unfolding sequence of a person’s work experiences over time.† This definition indicates the importance of time . It impacts â€Å"employment stability; skills and experience gained; relationships nurtured; and opportunities encountered† Arthur and Rousseau (1996). According to Sullivan (1999, p. 457) the way we view career has changed significantly. It is tradition that the careers of most individuals will evolve within the context of one or two organisations. ... This is in stark contrast to the boundaryless career where skills are transferable (see Appendix). Arthur (1994, p. 296) points out that boundaryless career is the opposite of organisational or bounded careers. Pringle and Mallon (2006, p. 841) indicates that this concept was developed to distinguish itself from the ‘bounded’ – organisational career and therefore ‘to avoid the subordination of the meaning of careers’ to that which is represented in larger and more stable firms. DeFillippi and Arthur (1996, p. 116) defines boundaryless career as â€Å"sequences of job opportunities that goes beyond the boundaries of a single employment settings.† This thinking relates to and is in response to the changing economic context at the time and appears to be in keeping with some of the tenets of globalisation which is a critical factor in the challenges affecting the traditional organisational career. However, globalisation is about interdependence whi ch would invalidate the independence assumption of the boundaryless career. Therefore, Tam and Arthur (2010) indicates that the relevance of this concept â€Å"will depend on its openness to the challenges of careers within the inherently dynamic, uncertain, and complex arena of an interdependent global economy†. Sullivan (1999) points to some important characteristics of boundaryless career when compared with traditional careers - see Appendix. As organisations make changes careers are affected. The quest for increasing profitability and in some cases, mere survival, has led firms to move certain aspects of their business to other countries and this means that jobs are also moving with them. This therefore supports the changes that will inevitably lead to boundaryless careers. According to Brown et al (2006, p.5)