Management Influences on Turnover Intention of Software Developers Essay Example for Free

Management Influences on upset Indecadetion of Softw ar Developers EssayIntroductionThe In normalation Technology (IT) Age has created umteen opportunities for occupation in the IT and IT services industry. IT originals are in demand totally over the world. Organizations world all-encompassing invest cash that go non only into salaries but for further teach of IT professionals they hire.However, around the world, the demand, supply, selection, recruitment and divisionicularly memory of IT professionals has affrightened organizations that recitation, manage or deal in IT or IT services for the past few age ( equating and Tremblay 2000 Ermel and Bohl 1997 Morello 1998 Guptill et al. 1999). This is why the departure of an IT professional from a company usually comes with disastrous effects to the organization. When an IT professional resigns, the organization suffers loss of profession sector act upon cognition and acquired technical skills (Dor 2004).Since late 19 96, the disturbance for IT professionals has jumped from 15% to 20% yearlyly, with only 8 of 10 IT positions being filled with qualified merchantmandidates (McNee et al. 1998). With the one-year employee over submit graze estimated at 20% or more (Alexander 1999 Kosseff 1999), air-hopping of IT professionals has been one of the biggest problems among managers and human resources (HR) experts (Par and Tremblay 2000).IT professionals seem to have a inclination of an orbit to variegate their telephone lines faster than other(a) employees when they feel dissatisfied with their authentic employer (Hacker 2003). The estimated cost of replacing IT professionals range from 1.5 to 2.5 measure of their annual salaries for the companies they resigned from (Kosseff 1999). On the other hand, the cost of losing a qualified IT professional is actually 3 to 6 times more expensive than the cost of losing a manager (Kochanski and Ledford 2001).IT professionals, as to a fault mentioned pr eviously in this topic, excessively tend to change transactions more quickly than other employees when they feel dissatisfied with in their current persist organize (Hacker 2003). However, rational ideals of voluntary dollar volume placenot be economic consumptiond to explain the lavishly dollar volume rate rates for IT professionals (Ro single-valued function 2001) since many IT professionals remain dissatisfied with their tunes even though they enjoy full(prenominal) financial rewards yet their creativity and expertness do not receive exalted respect from their peers, supervisors and companies as a whole (Fisher 2000).Furthermore, another account statement why IT professionals may resign more quickly when dissatisfied with their current employment is that much of IT work is project oriented, the technical employees loyalty may be more to the project, and not necessarily to the employer (Hacker, 2003, p. 15). These trends place intense pressure on both IT executives and HR managers. naughty IT professional perturbation translates to a threat not only to an organizations IT department but to the condescension as a whole. or so importantly, high IT turnover poses a threat to the produce, competitive positioning and strength of the global economy (Par and Tremblay 2000). A dissertation by Dr. Timothy lee(prenominal) Dor (2004) studied the relationships between contemplate characteristics, contrast enjoyment and turnover aspiration among software developers. These dickens factors bank line characteristics and hypothesize gaiety are deemed to play crucial roles in extrapolateing turnover tendency not only among software developers but IT professionals as a whole.The current learning aims to investigate the management beguiles on employee retention of IT professionals, focusing on melody characteristics and job propitiation, and their relate on turnover and retention. 1.1.1 Scope and Limitations of the StudyThis research ana lyseament study the impact of job characteristics and job satisfaction on the turnover intention of IT professionals. Although this paper intends to replicate some of Dors findings, the study forget not be limited to software developers only as this sector only constitutes a microscopic experiment of IT professionals as a whole.Specifically, the research study impart focus on the turnover intention of IT professionals in___________. In studying the relationships between job characteristics, job satisfaction and turnover intention, this study is limited to the enjoyment of the following theoretical models and theories to support its conclusionsFor the give-and-take on job characteristics, the research study testament bewilder use of the reflect Characteristics simulation real by JR Hackman and GR Oldham (1975/1980) and the psychoanalysis on Model Employers by Minda Zetlin (2001).For the discussion on job satisfaction, as tumefy as motive, the paper go outing use the M otivator-Hygiene Theory by F. Herzberg (1968/2003) and the Synergistic Model by T.M. Amabile (1997).For the discussion on turnover, the study pull up stakes use the impulsive turnover Model by R.M. Steers and R.T. Mowday (1987) the Rational Turnover Model by P.D. Rouse (2001) the Instinctual or Unfolding Model of Turnover by T.W. Lee, T.R. Mitchell, L. Wise and S. Fireman (1996) and the Conceptual Model for Investigating Turnover in IT, developed by J.B. Thatcher, L.P. stairna and R.J. Boyle (2002-03)These models will be discussed in detail later in this chapter, as well as in Chapter 2 on Review of Related Literature.Chapter 2Review of Related LiteratureThis chapter will analyze the assorted literary productions which are related to this research paper. It will discuss the works of other analysts and researchers on theories/models that will be apply to support this study, as well as pertinent literature on IT professionals turnover intentions. The chapter begins with a genera l discussion on motivational theories, cutlure, and leadership which are all critical factors that mend an employees intent to leave. The discussion them dovetails into a more specific presentation of the modeling used in the current study. This chapter will too admit a definition of terms structured into the discussion of related literature.2.1 Relationships between Job Characteristics, Job rapture, and Turnover IntentionIn 2004, Timothy Lee Dor submitted a dissertation titled The Relationships Between Job Characteristics, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intention Among Software Developers. harmonise to Dor, the factors leading to the turnover intention of software developers have been poorly understood. His study was designed to further understand the relationships between job characteristics, job satisfaction, and turnover intention among software developers. His study twisty the use of 326 meshwork surveys that contained questions relating to job characteristics, job sat isfaction, turnover intention and demographic information.The results of Dors study showed that several factors can act turnover intention, most significantly, job characteristics that may be influenced by management, such(prenominal) as training, autonomy, feedback, public figure of developers, travail conditional relation, and skill variety (Dor 2004). In his study, Dor made use of two research questions and sixteen hypotheses to understand the job characteristics variables which contribute to the various dimensions of job satisfaction, and which of these job satisfaction dimensions, in turn, contribute to turnover intention.Dor made use of indirect effect tests, to determine if certain job characteristics could be linked to turnover intention by means of the job satisfaction scales he provided. The results of his study indicated that ten of the indirect effects were statistically significant. All ten of the statistically significant indirect effects were associated with only collar of the seven job satisfaction scales inside work motivation, general job satisfaction, and satisfaction with pay.The largest indirect effect, according to Dor, was the effect of autonomy on turnover intention through general job satisfaction higher directs of autonomy lead to lower levels of turnover intention by increasing general job satisfaction. The next largest indirect effect was the effect of organisational training on turnover intention through general job satisfaction organizational training decreased turnover intention through an increase in general job satisfaction. The next three highest indirect effects in Dors findings were also between a job characteristic (feedback, skill, variety, and number of developers) and turnover intention through general job satisfaction (Dor, 2004, p. 130).2.2 Measuring Turnover Intentions Among IT ProfessionalsGuy Par and Michel Tremblay, in contrast to Dors study, completed a research covering the turnover intention of not just software developers but IT professionals as a whole. Their study, The Measurement and Antecedents of Turnover Intentions among IT Professionals (2000), submitted to Cirano research center, aimed to present and test an integrated model of turnover intentions that address the unique nature of the IT profession (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 3). The authors set a flat set of HR practices that will most credibly increase retention among IT employees. They emphasized citizenship doingss as well as two unequivocal types of organizational allegiance as key antecedents of turnover intentions.The study involved the sending of questionnaires to 394 Quebec members of the Canadian data Processing Society. The study addressed four research questions1) What are the necessary HR practices necessary to create an effective plan for retaining IT professionals?2) What is the impact of compensation and negotiation conditions on the turnover intentions of IT personnel?3) What is the effect of emplo yee demographic characteristics on the turnover intentions of IT personnel?4) Do organizational trueness and citizenship behaviors intercede the effects of HR practices, compensation and negotiation conditions as well as demographic characteristics on the turnover intentions of IT personnel? (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 4)Par and Tremblay provide that IT employees who are highly committed to their organization are less likely to leave than those who are relatively uncommitted. They attach three distinct dimensions to organizational commitment affective, continuance and normative commitment (Meyer and Allen 1997).1) Affective commitment means an employees own(prenominal) fixing and identification to the organization. This results in a strong belief in an acceptance of the organizations goals and values. Employees with a strong affective commitment continue employment with the organization because they want to do so (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 5)2) Continuance commitment is a t endency to engage in consistent lines of activity ground on the individuals recognition of the cost associated with discontinuing the activity. Employees whose primary link to the organization is based on continuance commitment remain because they need to do so. (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 5)3) nary(prenominal)mative commitment provides that employees exhibit behaviors solely because they believe it is the right and moral thing to do. Employees with a high level of normative commitment feel that they ought to remain with the organization. (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 5)In their findings, Par and Tremblay provide that affective commitment and continuance commitment are negatively related to turnover intentions (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 6). In addition to these two distinct types of commitment affecting turnover intention, their studies also points to the factor they call organizational Citizenship carriage or OCB.OCB is considered as a key element in organizational effectivenes s. OCB is delineate as an employees willingness to go supra and beyond the prescribed roles which they have been assigned (Par and Tremblay, 2000, p. 6, quoting from Organ 1990). Based on Par and Tremblays findings, the stronger the citizenship behavior of an IT employee, the more likely they are to stay in their company. The IT professionals affective commitment, or attachment to his or her organization, also decreases turnover intention.2.3 Job Characteristics ModelHackman and Oldhams Job Characteristics Model, as earlier introduced in Chapter 1 of this research study, predicts what aspects of jobs reflect the level of job enrichment for employees, and how these relate to employees individual differences and to the work outcomes required. The model includes five core job characteristics that can be applied to any job skill variety, undertaking identity, labor movement moment, task autonomy and feedback.Skill variety is defined as the number of different skills required in th e job (Hackman and Oldham 1980 Pilon 1998).Task identity means the completeness of the tasks done in the job (Hackman and Oldham 1980 Pilon 1998).Task significance on the other hand is defined as the importance of the job to the served population. (Mohamed 2004).Autonomy means the vertical blowup of responsibility, the amount of decision-making and independence allowed for employees. (Mohamed 2004).And lastly, feedback means the extent that the job itself provides information about employees performance (Huber 2000).These characteristics skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback are combined into a single predictive index which is called the Motivating authorisation label (Hackman and Oldham 1980).Figure 1.Job Characteristics ModelSource A.H. Mohamed (2004) The five core job characteristics enumerated in the previous paragraph are in continuous interaction with individual differences that evoke three critical psychological states in an employee. Th ese three states are 1) when the job is structured by skill variety, task identity and task significance this could lead employees to experience meaningfulness in their work. 2) The second state, task autonomy, which leads to feelings of responsibility for the outcomes of work. 3) The third and last state is feedback, which leads employees towards knowledge of the results of their work (Douthit 2000 Huber 2000). These three critical psychological states lead to a set of affective and in the flesh(predicate) outcomes high internal work motivation, high growth satisfaction, high general satisfaction, high work effectiveness, and low rate of absenteeism (Mohamed 2004 Donovan and Radosevich 1998). These affective and personal outcomes are the results of en employees job characteristics. They are defined as followsHigh internal work motivation this is the layer to which an employee is willing to work and to consider the organizational objectives as part of his or her own goals (Mohame d 2004).High growth satisfaction this is the achievement of the employee in overcoming challenges, succeeding and growing (Steers and vitriolic 1994)High general satisfaction this the feeling derived from the overall satisfaction with the work itself. This type of satisfaction is reflected mainly in decreased rates of absenteeism among employees (Steers and Black 1994 Omachonu et al 1999).High work effectiveness this refers to both the tonus and quantity aspects of work performance (Hackman and Oldham 1980).Low rate of absenteeism.The Job Characteristics Model, also includes three attributes that are identified as Moderators knowledge and skills, context job satisfaction, and employee growth-need strength. These attributes indicate which employee will respond positively to the Motivating Potential Score of their job and its outcomes (Hackman and Oldham 1980).An employees knowledge and skills are dependent on their educational qualifications which in turn will reflect their per ceptions toward their work outcomes (Sabiston and Laschinger 1995). On the other hand, an employees perception of his or her context job satisfaction involves factors like pay, supervision, colleagues, and job security. All these affect the employees outcomes as well (Mohamed 2004). Lastly, growth-need strength is the degree in which an employee seeks opportunities in his or her job for self-direction, get wording and personal accomplishment. These elements in turn affect the employees level of work internal motivation (Mohamed 2004).An example of a study which made effective use of Hackman and Oldhams Job Characteristics Model is the one conducted by A.H. Mohamed (2004) called Using the job characteristics model to compare patient of care assignment methods of nurses for the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria in Egypt. The population used were the nurses in the Alexandria Main University Hospital. Mohamed made use of a Job Diagnostic Survey (also developed by Hackman an d Oldham) to determine nurses perceptions towards the components of the Job Characteristics Model in relation to their performance in utilizing the case and functional methods of patient care assignment (Mohamed 2004).In his study, Mohamed concludes that the jobs of intensifier care unit nurses result in different expectations based also on the different categories of nurses, based on skills and challenges inherent in the work they perform (Mohamed 2004).Generally speaking thus, studies like Mohamed shows that an employees personal and affective outcomes are a result of the employees job characteristics.2.4 Model EmployersHowever, management also plays a crucial role in the retention and conversely turnover of IT professionals. Since IT professionals still enjoy a wide selection of employers to choose from, employers constantly compete to attract the best IT professionals by becoming model employers. In her 2001 article for Computer World, called Model employers, Minda Zetlin outli nes the strategies that make certain companies model employers.By compiling its eight annual refer of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, Computer World roughly sums up the model employers as offering not just top compensation, but also opportunities for travel growth, investment in training, diversity in the work place, work flexibility, and, ideally, a comfortable and fun place to spend their twenty-four hours hours (Zetlin 2001). Zetlin in her article outlines three common themes behind the achiever of these model IT employersIT is central to the best employers successAccording to Zetlin, excellence in IT is a top corporate strategy. Prioritizing IT should not be limited to companies that purely provide IT or IT services. Companies such as Avon, for instance, which ranks 4th in Computer Worlds list of 100 best employers, may be perceived to operate on a relationship-based environment. Yet to process its more than 60 million custom revisals every year, the company relies heavily on IT to process its tortuous supply chain. The fact that is it is actually a very transactional business, dependent on technology, makes IT one of its priorities (Zetlin 2001).Management takes an progressive interest in employers careers from the day they arriveThis includes having growing plan for employees as soon as they voice the organization. Employees meet with their managers on a periodic basis for a formal review to assess their development plan and to evaluate its progress. Orientation programs at the start of the employment are also part of this strategy. apart from orientation, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (ranked as No. 11) also provides for a yearly self-assessment for its employees against the established competencies for their jobs, with their supervisors doing the homogeneous (Zetlin 2001). Such focus on career development per employee makes the employee feel that management takes an active interest in aligning its objectives with the employees personal goals.Model e mployers also provide for continuous interest on their employees careers throughout their employment with the company. Knowledge mentoring programs and career mentoring programs, used by the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. (ranked No. 13), for instance, allow employees to learn more skills and career guidance from their more experience colleagues, and help management to identify employees to fill leaderships positions in the short and long term (Zetlin 2001). State Farms mentoring program is in fact so successful that it has extended the program to employees who havent even arrived yet such as appoint mentors to college students who plan to join State Farm after they graduate.There are no walls between business and ITUnlike other organizations, model employers ensure that IT people and business people work side by side. There is no division or competition. IT professionals are given a better understanding that what they do helps the business succeed. This understanding leads to career satisfaction for IT professionals. Technology people know exactly how they contribute to the revenues of their business and how important they are in the business plan. One advantage here is that a close relationship between IT and business allows people to switch between the two fields (Zetlin 2001). Another strategies such as cross-functional work teams gives career development not just to IT professionals but to business people in the organization as well. There are continuously different career tracks available. An IT professional may opt to toss by taking on management roles within technology, or they may shift to business management positions (Zetlin 2001).2.5 voluntary Intention Model R.M. Steers and R.T. Mowday, in their study Employee turnover and post-decision accommodation processes (1981) analyzed turnover as rooted in voluntary intention. Steers and Mowday viewed the interaction of intention to leave, and alternative job opportunities (ease of movement ) as direct antecedents to turnover (Steers and Mowday 1981 Rouse 2001). As earlier discussed in Chapter 1 of this study, the direction of the process in Steers and Mowdays Voluntary Intention Model starts with Job Expectations, then Affective Responses, then Turnover Intention, then finally, Actual Turnover (see Section 1.2.1.1 of this paper). However, these four elements were actually grouped together by Steers and Mowday under three steps. As can be seen in the Figure 3Each step in Figure 3 contains two requires. The second construct (Job Attitudes) of Step 1 becomes the first construct of Step 2. The second construct (Intent To Leave) of Step 2 becomes the first construct of Step 3.Step 1 of the Voluntary Intention Model involves the appearance in which job expectations influence an employees attitudes regarding his or her job. Attitudes are composed of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job involvement. Job expectations in turn are influenced by three stimuli.Th e first stimuli focuses on individual characteristics such as occupation, age, tenure, family concerns, and personality form (Steers and Mowday 1981 Rouse 2001).The second stimuli involves information obtained during the recruitment process and at various assessments points throughout the employees career (Steers and Mowday 1981 Rouse 2001).For instance, studies have shown that job expectation levels are often high when the employee first accepts a new job (Porter and Steers 1973). At these particular periods, expectations are developed from both the employee and employers ends.In other words, a sort of unwritten social contract is deemed to be adopted by the two parties (Prouse 2001). Lastly, the third stimuli affecting job expectations are alternative job opportunities. Studies have shown that the more alternatives in that respect are confronting an employee, then the more negative the employees attitudes becomes concerning his or her current job (Pfeffer and Lawler 1979).Step 2 in the Voluntary Intention Model involves the Affective Responses that are elicited from Step 1. These responses include the construct of job satisfaction, and how those responses influence the employees desire to leave the organization. Factors that affect the employees decision to leave include non-work factors such as family, hobbies, religion and political influences (Cohen 1995).Steers and Mowday also identified the potential of employees to alter their actual job, in terms of pay, working hours, environment, etc., and thus change their attitudes regarding their jobs (Prouse 2001).Chapter 3MethodologyThe aim of the research is to examine the relationships between job characteristic, job satisfaction and turnover intention among IT professionals in ______________. The proposition is that job satisfaction and job characteristics as management influences have indirect impact to the levels of turnover intention among IT professionals. The literature review indicates that there are different factors affecting IT professionals turnover intention. This research is going to study the turnover intention of IT professionals in _____________.3.1 inquiry uncertaintysThe study will answer the following two research questionsWhich job characteristic variable(s) causes the job satisfaction among IT professionals in ____________?What job satisfaction variable(s) cause the turnover intention among IT professionals in ____________? In answering these two primary questions, the thesis will make use of the following frameworkHypothesesResearch Question 1 Which job characteristic variable(s) causes the job satisfaction among IT professionals in _______________? The first research question will analyze the timewornized effect of job characteristics to job satisfiers. The null hypotheses tested wereJob Characteristics Job SatisfactionsH1 The level of IT training does not affect the various measures of job satisfaction.H2 The level of user contact does not affect the variou s measures of job satisfaction. H3 The job-required skills do not affect the various measures of job satisfaction. H4 The level of task significance does not affect job satisfaction. H5 The amount of workload does not affect job satisfaction. H6 The amount of feedback does not affect job satisfaction.Research Question 2 What job satisfaction variable(s) cause the turnover intention among IT professionals in ________________? The first research question will analyze the standardized effect of the job satisfaction scales to turnover intention. The null hypotheses tested were Job Satisfactions Turnover Intention H7 The level of internal work motivation does not affect turnover intention. H8 The level of job security satisfaction does not affect turnover intention. H9 The level of social job satisfaction does not affect turnover intention. H10 The level of job growth satisfaction does not affect turnover intention. H11 The level of satisfaction with pay does not affect turnover intenti on. H12 The level of satisfaction with supervision does not affect turnover intention.Research Procedures 3.3.1 Data Collection Research is a process of studying and analyzing situational factors of a specific problem or issue in order to determine solutions of it (Cavana, Delahaye and Sekaran 2001). According to Cavana, Delahaye and Sekaran (2001), there are three research paradigms electropositive, interpretivist and critical research. As the research hypotheses of this study try to explore the relationships between job characteristic, job satisfaction and turnover intention among the IT professionals in __________________, the positivist approach will be adopted and it will provide the framework upon which the methodology of this study can be used. In this study, the research problem requires primary data to specifically address the twelve hypotheses. An meshing questionnaire will be used as it is the most effective and appropriate data collection method. Questionnaire is defin ed as a pre-formulated written set of questions to which respondents recorded their answers within closely defined alternatives (Cavana, Delahaye and Sekaran, 2001). A well-designed questionnaire provides entire and useable data for analysis in order to make a conclusion of accepting / rejecting a research hypothesis. A copy of the questionnaire to be used is attached as Appendix A of this study. after(prenominal) gathering the data from questionnaires, the analysis of the data (including frequency distribution, correlation analysis and regression analysis) will be performed by a quantitative data analysis tool called SPSS (Statistical bundle for the Social Sciences). SPSS predictive analytics advances in usability and data access, drawing reliable conclusions from the collected quantitative data (SPSS, Inc. 2002). In depth quantitative analysis of the data will be undertaken. Frequency Distribution, Correlation Analysis, and Regression Analysis will be used to analyze the collec ted data. The population of this research is the _________ professionals in the country. The research is expected to have a 10% response rate (i.e. ____ questionnaires). A reminder electronic mail will be sent to the students to ensure stretchiness the planned response rate. Participants are not inconvenienced or exposed unnecessarily to potential harm by recruiting more than is required. The research conducted by Dor in 2004 (which this paper intends to compare itself to) only received 326 responses which is less than 0.1% of the population. An invitation email will be sent to the administration managers of the participating institutions. Then the manager will forward the invitation email to all qualified IT professionals and invite them to fill in the Internet unnamed questionnaire within 10 business days. A reminder email will be sent by the manager on the sixth business day. The invitation email only contains a consent form and a URL to the Internet anonymous questionnaire. Participation is entirely voluntary. The participant can withdraw at any time and there will be no disadvantage if the participant decides not to complete the survey. At no time will any individual be identified in any reports resulting from this study. A copy of the consent form is attached with this application.Variables The variables which will used in this study can be categorized into two categories job characteristics and job satisfaction. The factors within each category are discussed as follows The following job characteristics for IT professionals were selected for this study, based also on previous usage in similar studies as indicated in the literature reviewIT readinessUser ContactJob-required SkillsTask SignificanceWorkloadFeedback On the other hand, the job satisfaction scales include the followingInternal Work MotivationJob Security SatisfactionSocial Job SatisfactionJob Growth SatisfactionSatisfaction with PaySatisfaction with SupervisionData Analysis The study will make use of descriptive and inferential analysis were used throughout the study. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means, standard deviations, frequencies, and item means) were computed using the SPSS (SPSS, Inc., 2002). This general-purpose analysis program will be used to characterize the sample in terms of demographic characteristics pertaining to gender, income, education, age, years as an IT professional, years in the current organization, and years in the current position. SPSS will likewise used to analyze the correlation among job characteristics, the correlation between job satisfaction scales, the correlation between job satisfaction and job characteristics, and the correlation between job characteristics, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. The primary inferential technique that will be used is bivariate correlation. SPSS will also be used to analyze the regression analysis for the data. A 0.01 level of significance was adopted for exam significance. The standa rdized effects of all the job characteristics for each job satisfier will also be computed. The same method will be used to analyze the standardized effect of all the job satisfaction scales to turnover intention. From these standardized effect analyses, the prediction of turnover intention by job satisfaction scales will be computed. The job satisfaction scales which had a 0.60 level were considered significant to turnover intention. The reliability coefficients ranging between 0.60 and 0.70 are deemed adequate for research purposes (Aiken, 2000, p.88). For purposes of this study, the job satisfiers and job characteristics which have indirect effects of 0.60 above significance to turnover intention will be used. The standardized effect of the significant job characteristic will be multiplied to the standardized effect of the particular job satisfier. Each of the twelve hypotheses of this study will be tested in essentially six multiple regression analyses one for each job satisfie r as the constant, independent variable and its relation to each dependent variable represented by the job characteristics. differently stated, each job satisfier will represent a criterion variable and the six job characteristics will be considered predictors in each of the six regression analyses.ReferencesAlexander, S. M. (1999, November 1). The tricks for retaining talent. Crains Cleveland Business, T2-T3.Amabile, T. M. (1997). Motivating creativity in organizations On doing what you love and loving what you do. California Management Review, 40, 39-58.Cavana, R. Y., Delahaye, B. L., and U. Sekaran. (2001). Applied Business Research Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, pot Wiley Sons Australia, Ltd., Milton.Cohen, A. (1995). An examination of the relationships between work commitment and nonwork domains. Human Relations, 48, 239-263.Donovan, J.J., and D.J. Radosevich, (1998). The moderating role of goal commitment on the goal difficultyperformance relationship a meta-analytic review and critical re-analysis. Journal of applied psychology, 1998, 8330815.Dor, Timothy Lee. (2004). The Relationships Between Job Characteristics, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intention Among Software Developers. Graduate School of Argosy University-Orange County.Douthit, M.W., (2000). Job satisfaction returns to human and social capital. Journal of behavioral and applied management, 2000, 1(1)67.Fisher, A. (2000, December 18). Inspiring the burned-out computer programmer. Fortune, 334.Guptill, B. Stewart, B. Maroccio, L., Potter, K. and C. Claps (1999). 1998 IT Spending and staffing Survey Results. Gartner Group Strategic Analysis Report, April 1st.Hacker, C.A. (2003, Spring). Turnover A silent profit killer. Information Systems Management, 14-18.Hackman JR, and GR Oldham, (1980). Work design. Reading, Massachusetts, AddisonWesley, 198011421.Herzberg, F. (1968). Work and the nature of man. Cleveland World.Herzberg, F. (2003, January). One more time How do you motivate empl oyees? Harvard Business Review, 87-96.Kochanski, J., and G. Ledford. (2001). How to slip away meRetaining technical professionals. Research Technology Management, 44(3), 31-38.Kosseff, J. (1999, September 6). Info-tech firms increase efforts to keep workers. Crains Detroit Business, p. 21.McNee, B. Morello T. Zidar, E. and C. Smith (1998). IT Staff Retention and Recruitment Addressing a Critical Problem for the IS Organization. Gartner Group Strategic Analysis Report, September 28.Meyer, J.P., and N.J. Allen, (1997). load in the Workplace, Sage Publications.Mohamed, A.H. (2004, May) Using the job characteristics model to compare patient care assignment methods of nurses, Vol. 10, No. 3, May 2004, p. 389-405. Department of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.Morello, D.T. (1998). IT retention and recruitment What has a year brought? Gartner Group periodical Research Review, September 01.Omachonu V.K., Swift, J.A., Ross, J.E., eds . Principles of total quality, 3rd ed. Florida, St. Lucie Press, 1999335.Organ D.W., (1990). The motivational Basis of Organizational Citizenship Behavior In B.M.Par, G. and Tremblay, M. (2000). The Measurement and Antecedents of Turnover Intentions among IT Professionals. Scientific Series. Ciprano. September 2000.Pfeffer, J., Lawler, J. (1979). The effects of jb alternatives, extrinsic rewards, and commitment on satisfaction with the organization A field example of the insufficient justification paradigm . Berkeley University of California.Pilon BA. Outcomes and surprises of work redesigning how other leaders are coping with changes. Nursing Management, 1998, 29(8)445.Porter, L. W., and R.M. Steers. (1973). Organizational, work and personal factors in employee turnover and absenteeism. Psychological Bulletin, 80, 151-176.Rouse, P. D. (2001). Voluntary turnover related to information technology professionals A review of rational and instinctual models. International Journal of Or ganizational Analysis, 9, 281-290.Sabiston J.A., and H.K. Laschinger (1995). Staff nurse work empowerment and perceived autonomy. Journal of nursing administration, 1995, 25(9)4250.SPSS, Inc. (2002). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 11.5) Computer software. Chicago, IL SPSS, Inc.Steers, R. M., and R.T. Mowday. (1981). Employee turnover and post-decision accommodation processes. In L. Cummings B. Staw (Eds.), Research in Organizational Behavior (Vol. 3, pp. 235-281).Steers, R.M., and J.C. Black. Organizational behavior, 5th ed. New York, Harper Collins, 199495101.Thatcher, J.B., Stepna, L.P. and R.J. Boyle (2002-03). Turnover of information technology workers Examining empirically the influence of attitudes, job characteristics, and external markets. Journal of Management Information Systems, 19, 231-261.Zetlin, M. (2001, June 4). Model employers. Computerworld, 40-45.