Understanding Managerial Career Anchors and Career Path Preferences: A Case Study of Third Sector Social Enterprise Managers

This work explores the career anchors and career path preferences of small third sector social enterprise operational manager, in order to develop a theoretical framework of third sector operational managers career anchors and career path preferences. Understanding of managers’ career anchors will provide organisations with the ability to design an effective career path options that will match individual managers’ career needs with organisational needs. This will increase the contribution of managers and commitment to their organisations as well as improve managerial retention. Through a case study of eight small third sector social enterprise organisations, this work explores the relationship between the career anchors of operational managers and their career path preferences. It was identified that third sector operational manager’s career path preferences are influenced by public policy, organisational factors and individual career needs. The findings make an important contribution in the field of managerial career paths management in small third sector organisations and through exploring operational managers’ career anchors which are not linked to individual monetary needs.