Present, Past and Future of IT Careers, a Review: From the Local Pyramid to the “Flat World”

Abstract

Careers have experienced an evolution parallel to society’s constant progress. Careers have migrated from hierarchical and unidirectional models within a single organization, to models that provide non-linear or vertical movement within the hierarchy, movement between organizations, changes in employer-employee relationships, etc. Furthermore, careers have transferred responsibility from organizations to individuals. Due to these changes, careers have been transmuted from the organizational pyramid to a globalized, boundaryless, and one-dimensional scheme. In addition, within the IT sector, external factors such as gender, organizational culture, differences in requirements between technical and nontechnical positions, among others, have also impacted career management. This chapter presents a review of the changes that have been undertaken in career management from a general point of view, to the peculiarities of the IT sector, and ultimately encompass some conclusions extracted from research.