Determinants and Outcome of Career Competencies: Perspectives of Hotel Managers in China

This study aims to explore the determinants and outcome of career competencies. Based on the notion that organizations and individuals have respective obligations in the career management of employees', this study develops perceived "organizational career management' (OCM) and "career commitment" as determinants and career satisfaction as an outcome. In brief, this study seeks to test employees' perceptions of hotel career management and their career commitment on career competencies. The posited relationships are stated in the following hypotheses: (1) Perceived OCM has a positive direct effect on career competencies and career satisfaction; (2) career commitment has a positive direct effect on career competencies and career satisfaction; (3) career competencies have a positive direct effect on career satisfaction; and (4) career competencies mediate the relationship between OCM and career satisfaction and that between career commitment and career satisfaction.;Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were applied. First, in-depth interviews were conducted to collect primary data about OCM activities and career competencies; next, a pilot test was undertaken to assess the reliability of the four main constructs; and finally, the main survey was conducted using quota sampling to managers working in luxury state-owned hotels in China. A total of 796 valid questionnaires were collected, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test and estimate the causal relationships among the constructs.;The results indicate that both perceived OCM and career commitments have positive, direct effects on career competencies and career satisfaction. Career competencies have a positive, direct effect on career satisfaction and mediate the relationship between OCM/career commitment and career satisfaction. Hence, the hypothesized structural model has strong statistical ability to predict the determinants of career competencies and career satisfaction.;Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature by developing a three-dimensional measurement scale for OCM activities in China's hotel industry, and by identifying organizational and individual determinants of career competencies. Practically, the results can enable hotels to better design career management strategies to achieve desired organizational outcomes and can help hotel employees to enhance their career competencies and career satisfaction.;Key words: Career Competencies, Organizational Career Management, Career Commitment, Career Satisfaction, Structural Equation Modeling, China Hotels...