The Threat-Rigidity Model of Professional Obsolescence and Its Impact on Occupational Mobility Behaviors of IT Professionals

Initial results of the field study provide strong support for the threat-rigidity hypotheses with professional commitment moderating the relationship between the cognitive coping mechanisms and occupational mobility.

Abstract

This study examines how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence. We adopt the threat rigidity model to explain the relationship between threat of professional obsolescence and occupational mobility. In addition, we argue that professional commitment moderates the relationship between the consequent cognitive coping mechanisms of threat and occupational mobility. We collected data from 192 IT professionals using a survey methodology for data collection. Initial results of the field study provide strong support for the threat-rigidity hypotheses with professional commitment moderating the relationship between the cognitive coping mechanisms and occupational mobility.