A Model for Motivation for IT Retraining

Abstract

The skill-sets of many information technology (IT) professionals are becoming obsolete as IT changes accelerate. Organizations are retraining many software developers with legacy systems skills to skills required in the new Internet-based, client-server and object-oriented paradigms. This type of retraining is not incremental, but entails major cognitive, methodological and procedural shifts. Given its importance, cost and currency, processes that impact the effectiveness of training should be considered. Trainee motivation is one such process that should be investigated because it is more malleable than other aspects, such as trainees’ cognitive ability. This chapter proposes a model of motivational intentions and antecedents in this information technology retraining context. Theoretical background for the model is described. In addition, the implications of the model and its potential utilization in influencing motivational intentions, and ultimately improving the retraining outcomes, is discussed.