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Turnover intentions of Indian IS professionals

Author

Listed:
  • Mary C. Lacity

    (University of Missouri)

  • Vidya V. Iyer

    (University of Missouri)

  • Prasad S. Rudramuniyaiah

    (University of Missouri)

Abstract

One of the major challenges facing the Indian IT services industry is the high rate of turnover among Indian IS professionals. Turnover rates have been reported as high as 100% annually. Despite the serious problem, we are unaware of any academic research that has studied the determinants of turnover among Indian IS professionals. We aim to contribute to the literature by understanding Turnover Intentions of Indian IS professionals. We developed an initial model of Turnover Intentions based on the IS and Organizational Behavior literatures. The most commonly identified determinants of Turnover Intentions in these literatures were Organizational Commitment (emotional attachment to an organization) and Job Satisfaction. However, the research that identified these determinants was primarily tested on Western workers. We assessed the applicability of this model by interviewing 25 Indian IS professionals. We found strong support that Job Satisfaction affects Turnover Intentions among Indian IS professionals. However, Organizational Commitment was found to be a troublesome construct. Many Indian participants did not relate to the concept of an emotional attachment to an organization. Instead, they talked in terms that better mapped to the construct Organizational Satisfaction. The interviews also uncovered another important determinant of Turnover Intention: Social Norms. Social Norms, as evidenced by significant family pressure to reside in the same city as the employee’s family, emerged as a major reason for Turnover Intentions. Our revised model identifies Job Satisfaction, Organizational Satisfaction, and Social Norms as the main determinants of Turnover Intentions among Indian IS Professionals. We also identify four implications for practice. The most worrisome implication for Western clients is that Indian IS professionals do not like performing routine IT maintenance work or merely programming from predefined specifications—the bulk of work sent offshore. Indian IS professionals preferred client-facing activities, design and development work.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary C. Lacity & Vidya V. Iyer & Prasad S. Rudramuniyaiah, 2008. "Turnover intentions of Indian IS professionals," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 225-241, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:10:y:2008:i:2:d:10.1007_s10796-007-9062-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-007-9062-3
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    1. Thomas W. Ferratt & Ritu Agarwal & Carol V. Brown & Jo Ellen Moore, 2005. "IT Human Resource Management Configurations and IT Turnover: Theoretical Synthesis and Empirical Analysis," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 237-255, September.
    2. Fred Niederman & Mary Sumner, 2004. "Effects of Tasks, Salaries, and Shocks on Job Satisfaction Among MIS Professionals," Information Resources Management Journal (IRMJ), IGI Global, vol. 17(4), pages 49-72, October.
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    2. Stacy H. Lee & Jung Ha-Brookshire, 2017. "Ethical Climate and Job Attitude in Fashion Retail Employees’ Turnover Intention, and Perceived Organizational Sustainability Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Renata Korsakienė & Asta Stankevičienė & Agnė Šimelytė & Milda Talačkienė, 2015. "Factors driving turnover and retention of information technology professionals," Journal of Business Economics and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Muhammad Ashraf & Nawaz Ahmad & Sheema Haider3, 2016. "Antecedents Of Turnover Intentions: A Study Of Karachi Business Schools," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 12(1), pages 139-156.
    5. Florence Nkonye Akinrinlola1 & Nanfa Danjuma Kusa & Shitnaan Emmanuel Wapmuk, 2021. "The Role of Perceived Organisational Support on Organisational Justice and Turnover Intent among Private Secondary Schools in Jos, Plateau State," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(08), pages 684-692, August.
    6. Sajid Gul & Abdul Rashid & Faqir Muhammad, 2016. "The Impact Of Corporate Governance On Cost Of Capital: The Case Of Small, Medium, And Large Cap Firms," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 12(2), pages 12-16.
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    8. M.G. Shahnawaz & Kakali Goswami, 2011. "Effect of Psychological Contract Violation on Organizational Commitment, Trust and Turnover Intention in Private and Public Sector Indian Organizations," Vision, , vol. 15(3), pages 209-217, September.
    9. Zimmermann, Angelika & Ravishankar, M.N., 2016. "A systems perspective on offshoring strategy and motivational drivers amongst onshore and offshore employees," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 548-567.
    10. Lahiri, Somnath & Kedia, Ben L., 2009. "The effects of internal resources and partnership quality on firm performance: An examination of Indian BPO providers," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 209-224, June.
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    13. Sunil Mithas & Henry C. Lucas, Jr., 2010. "Are Foreign IT Workers Cheaper? U.S. Visa Policies and Compensation of Information Technology Professionals," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(5), pages 745-765, May.
    14. Saonee Sarker & Manju Ahuja & Suprateek Sarker, 2018. "Work–Life Conflict of Globally Distributed Software Development Personnel: An Empirical Investigation Using Border Theory," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(1), pages 103-126, March.
    15. Sayoni Santra & V. N. Giri, 2019. "Role of Career Adaptability and Its Resources in Predicting Vocational Attitudes of Indian IT Professionals," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 44(2), pages 168-192, May.
    16. Elisa Mattarelli & Maria Rita Tagliaventi, 2015. "How Offshore Professionals' Job Dissatisfaction Can Promote Further Offshoring: Organizational Outcomes of Job Crafting," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(5), pages 585-620, July.
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