Management Work and Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management Work and Society - Research Paper Example But at the same time there are many factors that prevent career choice options from being achieved. These factors include age, gender, race and education etc. All these factors might restrict a person’s career choice options. We will try to shed more light on these factors in the text below. Our discussion will include differences between achieved and ascribed roles. The main theories of occupational choices will also be examined and how these theories relate to the different roles. Objective and subjective constraints on occupational choice will be elaborated upon. Our discussion will also include analysis of the possible ways to reduce barriers for exercising career choice. Finally future organization and their effects on career choices will be examined. Differences between Achieved and Ascribed Roles A role is defined as a set of behaviour that is followed by a person acting in a social situation. The concept of role is very important because they have a huge impact on the behaviour of a person observing any role. Doctors and nurses are more responsible because they have a huge responsibility (saving people’s lives) so any person who is a doctor or a nurse will try to be responsible. Roles are of two types; they can be achieved or ascribed. Ascribed roles are those that are assigned to a person from inheritance. These roles are not based on merit but are based on the traits which are beyond one’s control (Stark, R. 2007). Achieved roles on the other hand are based on merit and personal skill. A person’s personal efforts and abilities have a role to play in his or her achieved roles. Gender, age, nationality etc. are some of the ascribed roles. These roles are involuntary in nature. Achieved role include doctors, engineers, criminals, footballers etc. These roles are based on one’s personal abilities and are voluntary in nature. Both of these roles have an impact on career choice. Due to some ascribed roles like gender and a ge a person might not be able to pursue a profession like baseball. Key Theories of Occupational Choice There are two main approaches that explain how a person chooses his or her occupation. These include developmental approach of occupational choice and structural approach. There is another theory called impulse or accidental theory of occupational choice. All three of these theories attempt to explain how a person chooses profession. Accidental theory of occupational choice gives a very simple explanation of career choice. It says that people choose their profession simply because of external factors that are beyond their control. Chance plays a role in occupational choice according to this theory. If we consider this theory to be true then all people become what they are simply because of events that are not in their control. The choices are voluntary but these choices are not because of interest in a particular field or goal of personal development rather they are an outcome of uncontrollable events. The achieved roles of a person according to this theory are also because of factors that are not controlled by the person. Uncertain events determine even the achieved roles of a person. It is however important to note that a personal merit of a person still plays a role after the choice of occupation but the choice itself is characterized by accident or chance. There is some empirical evidence that supports this theory as many famous people choose the