Ethical Climate as a Moderator in the Relationship between Protean Career Orientation and Organizational Commitment - Evidences from India

The present research aims to validate a model of protean career orientation and Organizational Commitment (OC, from now on) among the Indian IT professionals. The analysis also captures the ethical climates moderating effect in the relationship between career orientation and OC. A survey is conducted among 600 Indian IT professionals using a structured questionnaire. The research then uses SPSS (version 22) and AMOS for the analysis of data. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was carried out in AMOS, while the hypothesis of moderation was checked using PROCESS Macro tests in SPSS. The results indicate that both the value-driven as well as the self-directed dimensions of protean career have negligible effect on OC. However, the moderating effect of ethical environment on the relationship between protean career orientation (both dimensions) and OC is significant. This paper suggests a conceptual model of OC based on protean career orientation and ethical climate. It indicates that, while the direct association between protean career orientation and OC is non-significant, the negative effect of protean career orientation on OC can be further suppressed by the ethical-climate of organizations.