What Influences Choices to Pursue a Project Management Career: A Review of Literature on Career Choices in Project Management

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my dissertation supervisor who has always shown confidence in me. He has offered his patience, remarks, propositions and understanding. Here I would also like to mention my parents who have always believed in me for all my hard work. My family, including my parents, brother and sister has endlessly supported me during my life and academics. This has helped me in making positive decisions for my life. I would also mention my peers and co-workers and appreciate their collaboration and expert advice on every circumstance. I am also grateful towards my University and my Department, the administrators, faculty members and fellow students for their support throughout this study.

DECLARATION

I declare that the material stated in this dissertation/thesis is original and does not present work of any other scholar or research study conducted in the past. Material in this study is not partially or completely published elsewhere and collected only for the purpose of this study. I also acknowledge that I have complete understanding of the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University with respect to the endowment of higher education degree and my research work. Here, I would also like to take the opportunity to declare that I have almost exclusively followed the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University regarding this research study.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this dissertation is to enlighten and explore career decision making process in holistic manner. The core objective of this dissertation is to analyze career decision making process; moreover, this study also enlightens the factors that hinder the decision making process. This dissertation is based upon the findings that are extracted from analysis of information gathered from diverse previously conducted research studies. The findings of this study are based upon secondary research methodology. Moreover, in order to extract valid findings appropriate strategies are adapted through which validity of results can be enhanced. According to the analysis of diverse research studies, it was interpreted that there are several factors influencing career decision making process of an individual. These factors are not only associated with individual's behaviour; but, the external factors also depict substantial impact upon the decision making process. Hence, an individual must adapt adequate and effective approaches while making decision about his career and adapt the most optimal alternative available.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

ABSTRACTiv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Aims and Objective3

Structure of the Dissertation4

CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY5

Introduction5

Data Collection5

Searching Strategy6

Locating Sources6

Keywords8

Sifting9

Data Analysis10

Data Needed for the Research12

Advantages and Disadvantages12

Chapter Summary14

CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW15

Introduction15

Pursue a Project Management Career15

Career Decision Making19

Self Efficacy20

Career Indecision23

Pessimistic and Anxiety24

Extroversion vs. Introversion26

Career Decision Making Difficulties26

Career Decision Making Factors27

Gender Stereotypical28

Role Model30

Parent Influence32

Parental Support32

Parental Expectation33

Cultural34

Chapter Summary35

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION36

Introduction36

Description Statistics36

Gender37

Cultural, Ethnic and CDMQ39

Parental Supportive and Authoritarian41

Parental Expectation42

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION44

What Influences Choices to Pursue a Project Management Career?44

Do these Factors Make the Career Decision Making Difficulties?44

Recommendation and Limitation45

REFERENCES47

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Research Background

Project management as is a diverse, exciting career with no end of ...